Luke 8:22-56

This passage was assigned in the preaching course I’m taking. It is extra to any assignment in the book:

Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, 3rd Edition by Bryan Chapell

It’s preface is Jesus’ response to those who informed Him that his mother and brothers desired to see Him: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear (ἀκούοντες, a present participle of ἀκούω) the word of God and do (ποιοῦντες, a present participle of ποιέω) it.”1

One2 day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke3 and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is4 your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes,5 which is opposite6 Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him7 a man from the city who had8 demons. For a long time9 he had worn no clothes,10 and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound11 with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon12 into the desert.) Jesus then asked him,13 “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,”14 for many demons had entered him. And they begged15 him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of pigs was feeding16 there on the hillside, and they begged17 him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered18 the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

When the herdsmen saw what had happened,19 they fled and20 told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone,21 sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes22 asked23 him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged24 that he might be with him, but Jesus25 sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

Now26 when Jesus returned,27 the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him [Table]. And there came a man named Jairus,28 who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians,29 she could not be healed by30 anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter31 said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”32 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out33 from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared34 in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter,35 your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”36 But Jesus on hearing this answered him,37 “Do not fear; only believe,38 and she will be well.” And when he came39 to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him,40 except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not41 dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But42 taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”43 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.44

The assignment this time was to determine the Source of Sorrow (SOS), Empowering Grace (EMP), Call to Action (CTA) and Road to Christ (RTC) for each story. And then determine the same for the entire passage by the overlap of the individual stories.

On a Boat in a Storm

Jesus’ question—Where (ποῦ) is your faith?45—hints at the Source of Sorrow here. The verb εστιν (is) does not occur in the NET parallel Greek text or NA28, the critical text, but only in the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text, the received text. As I considered the phrase without a verb its tone changed from an accusation—“where did your faith go”—to a gentle reminder—“where your faith? in your own seamanship or in God?”

Luke seems to have described a different storm at a later time than that described by Matthew. I’m assuming here that Matthew and Levi were the same person:

Matthew 9:9-13 (ESV)

Mark 2:13-17 (ESV)

Luke 5:27-32 (ESV)

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew46 sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said47 to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he48 heard it, he said,49 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy,50 and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but51 sinners.”52

He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as53 he reclined at table54 in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed55 him. And the scribes of the Pharisees,56 when they saw that he was eating57 with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why58 does he eat59 with tax collectors and sinners?” And when Jesus heard it, he said to them,60 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”61

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything,62 he rose and followed63 him.

And Levi64 made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors65 and sinners?” And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but66 those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

The similarities are striking but the differences are also telling. Only Luke recorded that Levi (Matthew) was leaving everything67 (καταλιπὼν πάντα). And only Matthew recorded Jesus’ command to his and Matthew’s accusers: Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’68 These nuances make me quite comfortable with the idea that Matthew/Levi was Matthew the apostle and the author of the Gospel according to Matthew.

Matthew 10:1-4 (ESV)

Mark 3:13-19 (ESV)

Luke 6:12-16 (ESV)

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew69 the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;70 Simon the Zealot,71 and Judas Iscariot,72 who betrayed him.

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles73) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority74 to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve:75 Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew,76 and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,77 and Judas Iscariot,78 who betrayed him.

In these days he went out79 to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and80 James and John, and81 Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew,82 and Thomas, and83 James the son84 of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and85 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot,86 who87 became a traitor.

Only Matthew differentiated himself as the tax collector88 ( τελώνης). A table outlining these events follows.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Stilling of a Storm (8:23-27)
Healing the Gadarene Demoniacs (8:28-34)
The Call of Matthew (9:9-13) The Call of Levi (2:13-17) The Call of Levi (5:27-32)
Sending Out the 12 Apostles (10:1-4) Appointing the 12 Apostles (3:13-19) Choosing the 12 Apostles (6:12-16)
Stilling of a Storm (4:35-41) Stilling of a Storm (8:22-25)
Healing of a Demoniac (5:1-20) Healing of a Demoniac (8:26-39)

The storm described in Luke was clearly after these events, while the storm described by Matthew occurred before them. This has become considerably more important to me than completing this assignment. Why?

In an expository sermon, the homiletical outline is worded in principles derived from and supported by features of the text in its context. The preacher demonstrates how the text supports these principles and then applies them to the contemporary context of the listeners.89

…the finest expositors begin preparing each sermon by asking themselves the following question: What may I, with the authority of God’s Word, require of you as a result of what we discern this text means?90

I don’t do this for myself studying God’s Word. I won’t do it to anyone else. I’ve already acknowledged that at my best I receive the 2nd person imperatives of Scripture—you must—“as fair warnings: what God who works in [me], both to will and to work for his good pleasure91 is doing,”92 because of who He is in his faithfulness. At my best I recognize that I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.93 So, I’ll consider the advantages for knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom [He has] sent94 implicit in understanding the storms recorded by Matthew and Luke as two separate events.

The disciples began hearing and doing Jesus’ word: “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out.95 The storm caused them some question or doubt. It reminds me of Jesus’ parable (Mark 4:3-9 ESV):

Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.96 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds97 came and devoured it. Other98 seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately99 it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose,100 it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. And other101 seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing102 and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” And he said,103 “He who has104 ears to hear, let him hear.”

Jesus explained the parable to his disciples (Mark 4:14-20 ESV):

The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them [Table]. And these are the ones105 sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately106 receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately107 they fall away. And others108 are the ones sown among thorns. They are109 those who hear the word, but the cares of the110 world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold [Table].

I only recall hearing this preached in one of two ways: Either as a fait accompli, too bad, so sad, most people spend eternity in the lake of fire. Or, with an implicit application that the soil, those who hear the word, should improve themselves somehow. The latter isn’t completely off the mark if one understands that God’s soil enrichment program is Himself, through faith in Jesus Christ, in the person of his own indwelling Holy Spirit. I don’t recall ever hearing that said in a sermon, but I have an exceptionally strong religious bias against sitting down with God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and following Him through the Bible.

Whether I see the impact of these storms as tribulation or persecution, or the cares of the world, one advantage to understanding them as two separate events is that I see Jesus working to improve the soil that is his disciples. I might even see some development in the contrast between the storm Matthew recounted and the one here in Luke’s Gospel account. A gentle reminder—“where your faith?”—is not the same as Why are you “timid, fearful, cowardly, fainthearted; miserable, wretched, worthless; deserving pity, deserving contempt?”111 And they were afraid, Luke wrote, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey (ὑπακούουσιν, a form of ὑπακούω) him?”112

Luke and the Holy Spirit chose some interesting words here. The Greek word translated they were afraid was φοβηθέντες, a participle of φοβέω. It was the same word the rabbis chose to describe the people at Sinai (Exodus 20) in the Septuagint.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Exodus 20:15 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:18 (NET)

Exodus 20:18 (NETS)

Exodus 20:18 (Elpenor English)

And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled (וַיָּנֻ֔עוּ), and stood afar off. All the people were seeing the thundering and the lightning, and heard the sound of the horn, and saw the mountain smoking—and when the people saw it they trembled with fear (nûaʿ, וינעו) and kept their distance. And the people were perceiving the sound and the flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking. Now all the people were afraid (φοβηθέντες) and stood at a distance. And all the people perceived the thundering, and the flashes, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and all the people feared (φοβηθέντες) and stood afar off,

The Greek word translated they marveled was ἐθαύμασαν, a 3rd person plural form of θαυμάζω. It was the same word the rabbis chose to describe the kings who encountered God as defender of Zion.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Psalm 48:2-5 (Tanakh/KJV)

Psalm 48:2-5 (NET)

Psalm 47:3-6 (NETS)

Psalm 47:3-6 (Elpenor English)

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. It is lofty and pleasing to look at, a source of joy to the whole earth. Mount Zion resembles the peaks of Zaphon; it is the city of the great king. since he planted it well, for the enjoyment of the whole earth, Mountains of Sion, the slopes of the north, the city of the great King— The city of the great King is well planted [on] the mountains of Sion, with the joy of the whole earth, [on] the sides of the north.
God is known in her palaces for a refuge. God is in its fortresses; he reveals himself as its defender. within its bastions God is known, when he supports it, God is known in her palaces, when he undertakes to help her.
For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. For look, the kings assemble; they advance together. because, look, the kings assembled; they came together. For, behold the kings of the earth were assembled, they came together.
They saw it, and so they marvelled (תָּמָ֑הוּ); they were troubled, and hasted away. As soon as they see, they are shocked (tāmah, תמהו); they are terrified, they quickly retreat. They, when they saw it so, were astounded (ἐθαύμασαν); they were troubled; they were shaken; They saw, and so they wondered (ἐθαύμασαν): they were troubled, they were moved.

Though Jesus’ disciples may not have been ready intellectually to acknowledge Him as God in human flesh, they had already begun to respond to Him as others in the past had responded to their encounters with the living God, according to Luke’s and the Holy Spirit’s word choices. And still, I admit, I’m not exactly sure what Jesus expected from his disciples. What does faith look like when one encounters a life-threatening circumstance following the Lord?

Luke was apparently a fellow passenger and eye-witness to Paul’s faith in the storm they encountered on their way to Rome (Acts 27:21-26 ESV).

Since113 they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me (Acts 27:9, 10) and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now114 I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me115 an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”

The most likely Scriptural precedent for the disciples’ peril in the storms was the story of Jonah fleeing from the Lord.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Jonah 1:4-6 (Tanakh)

Jonah 1:4-6 (NET)

Jonah 1:4-6 (NETS)

Jonah 1:4-6 (Elpenor English)

But HaShem hurled a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. But the Lord hurled a powerful wind on the sea. Such a violent tempest arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break up! And the Lord aroused a wind in the sea, and a great surge came upon the sea, and the ship was in danger of breaking up. And the Lord raised up a wind on the sea; and there was a great storm on the sea, and the ship was in danger of being broken.
And the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. The sailors were so afraid that each cried out to his own god and they flung the ship’s cargo overboard to make the ship lighter. Jonah, meanwhile, had gone down into the hold below deck, had lain down, and was sound asleep. And the mariners were afraid and cried out, each to their god. And they heaved the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to be lightened from them. But Jonas went down into the hold of the ship and was sleeping and snoring. And the sailors were alarmed, and cried every one to his god, and cast out the wares that were in the ship into the sea, that it might be lightened of them. But Jonas was gone down into the hold of the ship, and was asleep, and snored.
So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him: ‘What meanest thou that thou sleepest? arise, call upon thy G-d, if so be that G-d will think upon us, that we perish not.’ The ship’s captain approached him and said, “What are you doing asleep? Get up! Cry out to your god! Perhaps your god might take notice of us so that we might not die!” And the captain came to him and said to him, “Why are you snoring? Get up, invoke your god in order that the god might deliver us and we not perish.” And the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, Why snorest thou? arise, and call upon thy God, that God may save us, and we perish not.

Mark seems to have patterned his retelling of a story of Jesus’ disciples in a storm after the story of Jonah, recasting Jonah as Jesus and the shipmaster as Jesus’ frightened disciples (Mark 4:38 ESV):

But [Jesus] was in116 the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke117 him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”

The sequencing of events seems to place Mark’s account of a storm at roughly the same time as Luke’s account rather than Matthew’s, but Jesus’ responses recorded in Mark seem to collapse the two (or more) events into one (Mark 4:40 ESV):

He said to them, “Why are you so118 afraid? Have you still no119 faith?”

A table comparing these responses in Greek and English translation follows:

Mark 4:40 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 8:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:40 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:25 (NET Parallel Greek)

τί δειλοί ἐστε τί δειλοί ἐστε οὔπω ἔχετε πίστιν ποῦ πίστις ὑμῶν

Mark 4:40 (ESV)

Matthew 8:26 (ESV)

Mark 4:40 (ESV)

Luke 8:25 (ESV)

Why are you so afraid? Why are you afraid Have you still no faith? Where is your faith?

The development I think I see in Luke’s account compared to Matthew’s vanishes in Mark’s account. And the point is well-taken. I’m a fan now. I want Jesus’ disciples to improve. I don’t want the Lord’s time and effort patiently teaching them to be wasted. But I also know that self-improvement fades to insignificance in the face of death and resurrection. I know that the main difference between Paul in Acts and Peter or John in Matthew or Luke is God Himself, through faith in Jesus Christ, in the person of his own indwelling Holy Spirit. Paul confessed (Galatians 2:19-21 NET):

For through…law (διὰ νόμου) I died to the law so that I may live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside God’s grace, because if righteousness could come through…law (εἰ γὰρ διὰ νόμου δικαιοσύνη), then Christ died for nothing!

Plundering the Strong Man’s Goods

Accepting Matthew’s and Luke’s accounts of a storm as two separate events helps me see that Jesus, led by the Spirit, set out across the Sea of Galilee on two separate occasions to rescue men possessed by demons, and then He left again back across the sea.

Matthew 8:28 (ESV)

Luke 8:26, 27 (ESV)

And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way [Table].

Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.

Matthew 9:1 (ESV)

Luke 8:40 (ESV)

And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city [Table].

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him [Table].

Freeing demon-possessed men doesn’t exhaust the meaning of plundering a strong man’s goods. All of us need his rescue from our father the devil. It does, however, present a vivid and dramatic demonstration.

Matthew 12:28, 29 (ESV)

Mark 3:27 (ESV)

Luke 11:20-22 (ESV)

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder120 his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house [Table].

But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house [Table].

But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you [Table]. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil [Table].

And it leads me to the conclusion that there was more to these storms than, “The collision of warm water and moist warm air with cooler air, leading to condensation and storm clouds.”121 Satan was able to conjure a windstorm to kill Job’s children (Job 1:18b, 19 ESV):

“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house [Table], and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you” [Table].

But Satan did nothing to Job without the Lord’s permission (Job 1:12 ESV [Table]):

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that [Job] has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Given that, the words recorded in Jonah are also true of the storms endured by Jesus’ disciples (Jonah 1:4a ESV):

But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea…

What about the storm Luke and Paul encountered on their way to Rome? What about the storm named Helene? I worked at a conference in Orlando last week, but my own experience of Helene is scarcely worth mentioning.

On the last day of the conference I was drenched in a brief downpour as we loaded the company van so one of the owners could get ahead of the storm on her way to Philadelphia. Being drenched, working in the heat in Orlando, is probably best described as a refreshing shower. I changed into shorts but wore the same shirt I was drenched in to dinner that evening. And being drenched caused my employer to tell me to take everyone back to the hotel in an Uber on the company card.

The next morning I flew out of Orlando about four hours earlier than originally planned, landed uneventfully in St. Louis, met briefly with friends and then drove home to Desloge under partly cloudy conditions. For the next day or so I studied Luke’s Gospel account with a gentle rain pattering on the porch outside my open sliding door. Others had different experiences. Many died.

“Here’s how Hurricane Helene brought ‘biblical devastation’ to western North Carolina in a near ‘worst-case scenario’” a CBS News headline online read.122 “CBS News has confirmed that at least 162 people across several states were killed by Helene. Buncombe County alone has reported more than 50 deaths, including a 7-year-old who was swept away by floodwaters with his grandparents.” Li Cohen, the credited author, explained the words “biblical devastation” in her headline.

In Buncombe County, home to Asheville, Emergency Services Assistant Director Ryan Cole told the Citizen-Times that “catastrophic devastation” didn’t accurately describe the impact the deluge had.
“It would go a little bit further and say we have biblical devastation through the county,” Cole said. “We’ve had biblical flooding here and it has been extremely significant.”

CBS News is a commercial enterprise. It makes sense, I suppose, that the implicit application in Ms. Cohen’s article, for those who have ears to hear, is to buy electric vehicles. And I suppose that I, flying to and from Orlando and driving to and from my home in an ordinary vehicle, am one of those to blame for the death of “a 7-year-old who was swept away by floodwaters with his grandparents,” according to Ms. Cohen’s informant

As unprecedented as Helene’s impact on the region was, there is a chance it won’t be the last.

“The rapid intensification of Helene over the Gulf, the amount of moisture available in its surrounding environment, and its manifestation as locally heavy — and in some cases, historically unheard of — rainfall amounts are all known side effects of a warmer atmosphere,” the [North Carolina State climate] office said.

Last year was already the warmest humans had ever recorded and 2024 has seen countless heat records. The continued use of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases that are trapping heat within the atmosphere, increasing average temperatures that fuel extreme weather events like Helene.

As I sit here now grappling with my own reactions to our different experiences of Helene, the first explanation that comes to mind is geographical. Missouri wasn’t particularly harmed by this storm. I was never in any real danger in Orlando. I suspected that while I was still there. Having lived in Kissimmee I told my sister, alarmed for my safety by news reports, that “most hurricanes in the Orlando area are windy rainstorms with a really good press agent.”

As I consider that “7-year-old who was swept away by floodwaters with his grandparents,” I hear my religious beliefs screaming like some angry child: “If those dead people didn’t go to the right church, or do the right things, or believe or say the right things about Jesus, they will burn in the lake of fire for all eternity!” But even in the midst of that cacophany, I hear Jesus’ calm voice (Luke 20:38 ESV):

Now (δὲ) he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.

These were not just words Jesus spoke. This is the confidence Jesus lived. Consider his response to those mourning Jairus’ dead daughter (Luke 8:52-55 ESV):

And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once.

It is the same calm voice who said (Matthew 11:27-30 ESV):

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses (βούληται, a form of βούλομαι) to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls [Table]. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Again, these are more than mere words. His welcome was apparent in almost everything He did (Luke 8:40-42a ESV).

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him [Table]. And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.

The very next words in Luke’s Gospel account are: As Jesus went123 And that same calm voice said (John 6:44, 45 ESV):

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day [Table]. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me[Table]

This is the backstory as it were, what was actually going on within the woman who was healed by touching Jesus’ garment, and how she was drawn to Jesus (Luke 8:42b-44 ESV).

As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.

Jesus was aware that something had happened between God and someone—for I perceive that power has gone out from me124—but He seems to have been uncertain who that someone was until she confessed (Luke 8:47, 48 ESV).

And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well (σέσωκεν, a form of σώζω); go in peace.”

Mark elaborated some about this woman (Mark 5:27, 28 ESV):

She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If125 I touch even his garments, I will be made well (σωθήσομαι, another form of σώζω).”

But this elaboration seems to focus my attention too much on the circumstance of her faith—She had heard the reports about Jesus—and its content—If I touch even his garments—rather than the object and source of her faith; namely, Jesus Christ and the only true God who, according to Jesus, drew her to Him. This drawing leads me back again to that same calm voice (John 12:31, 32 ESV):

Now (νῦν) is the judgment of this world; now (νῦν) will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

Hearing his calm voice, with his steady hand on the tiller of my life, I have hope that though I didn’t know that “7-year-old who was swept away by floodwaters” or “his grandparents,” there is yet a time when we may meet (not because I know their faith but because I know the faithfulness of my God) and we will share a common story much like Paul outlined for Titus (Titus 3:3-7 ESV).

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved (ἔσωσεν, another form of σώζω) us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit [Table], whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life [Table].

The postscript to Luke 8:22-56 is (Luke 9:1, 2 ESV):

And he called the twelve together126 and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.127

According to a note (32) in the NET, Jesus quoted from Hosea 6:6 in Matthew 9:13. A table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

Matthew 9:13b (NET Parallel Greek)

Hosea 6:6a (Septuagint BLB) Table

Hosea 6:6a (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν

Matthew 9:13b (NET)

Hosea 6:6a (NETS)

Hosea 6:6a (English Elpenor)

I want mercy and not sacrifice I want mercy and not sacrifice I will [have] mercy rather than sacrifice

Tables comparing Exodus 20:18 (20:15); Psalm 48:2; 48:3; 48:4; 48:5; Jonah 1:4; 1:5 and 1:6 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Exodus 20:18; Psalm 48:2 (47:3); 48:3 (47:4); 48:4 (47:5); 48:5 (47:6); Jonah 1:4; 1:5 and 1:6 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Luke 8:22; 8:24-27; 8:29-35; 8:37, 38; 8:41; 8:43; 8:45-52; 8:54; Matthew 9:9; 9:11-13; Mark 2:15-17; Luke 5:28-31; Matthew 10:3, 4; Mark 3:14-16; 3:18, 19; Luke 6:12; 6:14-16; Mark 4:3-6; 4:8-9; 4:16-19; Acts 27:21-23; Mark 4:38; 4:40; 5:28 and Luke 9:1, 2 in the KJV and NET follow.

Exodus 20:15 (Tanakh)

Exodus 20:18 (KJV)

Exodus 20:18 (NET)

And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. All the people were seeing the thundering and the lightning, and heard the sound of the horn, and saw the mountain smoking—and when the people saw it they trembled with fear and kept their distance.

Exodus 20:18 (BLB Septuagint)

Exodus 20:18 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἑώρα τὴν φωνὴν καὶ τὰς λαμπάδας καὶ τὴν φωνὴν τῆς σάλπιγγος καὶ τὸ ὄρος τὸ καπνίζον φοβηθέντες δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἔστησαν μακρόθεν Καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἑώρα τὴν φωνὴν καὶ τὰς λαμπάδας καὶ τὴν φωνὴν τῆς σάλπιγγος καὶ τὸ ὄρος τὸ καπνίζον· φοβηθέντες δὲ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς ἔστησαν μακρόθεν

Exodus 20:18 (NETS)

Exodus 20:18 (Elpenor English)

And the people were perceiving the sound and the flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking. Now all the people were afraid and stood at a distance. And all the people perceived the thundering, and the flashes, and the voice of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and all the people feared and stood afar off,

Psalm 48:2 (Tanakh)

Psalm 48:2 (KJV)

Psalm 48:2 (NET)

Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. It is lofty and pleasing to look at, a source of joy to the whole earth. Mount Zion resembles the peaks of Zaphon; it is the city of the great king.

Psalm 48:2 (BLB Septuagint)

Psalm 47:3 (Elpenor Septuagint)

εὖ ῥιζῶν ἀγαλλιάματι πάσης τῆς γῆς ὄρη Σιων τὰ πλευρὰ τοῦ βορρᾶ ἡ πόλις τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ μεγάλου εὐρίζῳ ἀγαλλιάματι πάσης τῆς γῆς. ὄρη Σιών, τὰ πλευρὰ τοῦ Βορρᾶ, ἡ πόλις τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ μεγάλου

Psalm 47:3 (NETS)

Psalm 47:3 (Elpenor English)

since he planted it well, for the enjoyment of the whole earth, Mountains of Sion, the slopes of the north, the city of the great King— The city of the great King is well planted [on] the mountains of Sion, with the joy of the whole earth, [on] the sides of the north.

Psalm 48:3 (Tanakh)

Psalm 48:3 (KJV)

Psalm 48:3 (NET)

God is known in her palaces for a refuge. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. God is in its fortresses; he reveals himself as its defender.

Psalm 48:3 (BLB Septuagint)

Psalm 47:4 (Elpenor Septuagint)

ὁ θεὸς ἐν ταῖς βάρεσιν αὐτῆς γινώσκεται ὅταν ἀντιλαμβάνηται αὐτῆς ὁ Θεὸς ἐν τοῖς βάρεσιν αὐτῆς γινώσκεται, ὅταν ἀντιλαμβάνηται αὐτῆς

Psalm 47:4 (NETS)

47:4 (Elpenor English)

within its bastions God is known, when he supports it, God is known in her palaces, when he undertakes to help her.

Psalm 48:4 (Tanakh)

Psalm 48:4 (KJV)

Psalm 48:4 (NET)

For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. For look, the kings assemble; they advance together.

Psalm 48:4 (BLB Septuagint)

Psalm 47:5 (Elpenor Septuagint)

ὅτι ἰδοὺ οἱ βασιλεῖς συνήχθησαν ἤλθοσαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό ὅτι ἰδοὺ οἱ βασιλεῖς τῆς γῆς συνήχθησαν, ἤλθοσαν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτό

Psalm 47:5 (NETS)

Psalm 47:5 (Elpenor English)

because, look, the kings assembled; they came together. For, behold the kings of the earth were assembled, they came together.

Psalm 48:5 (Tanakh)

Psalm 48:5 (KJV)

Psalm 48:5 (NET)

They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. As soon as they see, they are shocked; they are terrified, they quickly retreat.

Psalm 48:5 (BLB Septuagint)

Psalm 47:6 (Elpenor Septuagint)

αὐτοὶ ἰδόντες οὕτως ἐθαύμασαν ἐταράχθησαν ἐσαλεύθησαν αὐτοὶ ἰδόντες οὕτως ἐθαύμασαν, ἐταράχθησαν, ἐσαλεύθησαν

Psalm 47:6 (NETS)

Psalm 47:6 (Elpenor English)

They, when they saw it so, were astounded; they were troubled; they were shaken; They saw, and so they wondered: they were troubled, they were moved.

Jonah 1:4 (Tanakh)

Jonah 1:4 (KJV)

Jonah 1:4 (NET)

But HaShem hurled a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken. But the Lord hurled a powerful wind on the sea. Such a violent tempest arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break up!

Jonah 1:4 (BLB Septuagint)

Jonah 1:4 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ κύριος ἐξήγειρεν πνεῦμα εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν καὶ ἐγένετο κλύδων μέγας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ καὶ τὸ πλοῖον ἐκινδύνευεν συντριβῆναι καὶ Κύριος ἐξήγειρε πνεῦμα μέγα εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν, καὶ ἐγένετο κλύδων μέγας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ, καὶ τὸ πλοῖον ἐκινδύνευε τοῦ συντριβῆναι

Jonah 1:4 (NETS)

Jonah 1:4 (Elpenor English)

And the Lord aroused a wind in the sea, and a great surge came upon the sea, and the ship was in danger of breaking up. And the Lord raised up a wind on the sea; and there was a great storm on the sea, and the ship was in danger of being broken.

Jonah 1:5 (Tanakh)

Jonah 1:5 (KJV)

Jonah 1:5 (NET)

And the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god; and they cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it unto them. But Jonah was gone down into the innermost parts of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. The sailors were so afraid that each cried out to his own god and they flung the ship’s cargo overboard to make the ship lighter. Jonah, meanwhile, had gone down into the hold below deck, had lain down, and was sound asleep.

Jonah 1:5 (BLB Septuagint)

Jonah 1:5 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ναυτικοὶ καὶ ἀνεβόων ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν θεὸν αὐτῶν καὶ ἐκβολὴν ἐποιήσαντο τῶν σκευῶν τῶν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν τοῦ κουφισθῆναι ἀπ᾽ αὐτῶν Ιωνας δὲ κατέβη εἰς τὴν κοίλην τοῦ πλοίου καὶ ἐκάθευδεν καὶ ἔρρεγχεν καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν οἱ ναυτικοὶ καὶ ἀνεβόησαν ἕκαστος πρὸς τὸν θεὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐκβολὴν ἐποιήσαντο τῶν σκευῶν τῶν ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ εἰς τὴν θάλασσαν τοῦ κουφισθῆναι ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν. ᾿Ιωνᾶς δὲ κατέβη εἰς τὴν κοίλην τοῦ πλοίου καὶ ἐκάθευδε καὶ ἔρρεγχε

Jonah 1:5 (NETS)

Jonah 1:5 (Elpenor English)

And the mariners were afraid and cried out, each to their god. And they heaved the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to be lightened from them. But Jonas went down into the hold of the ship and was sleeping and snoring. And the sailors were alarmed, and cried every one to his god, and cast out the wares that were in the ship into the sea, that it might be lightened of them. But Jonas was gone down into the hold of the ship, and was asleep, and snored.

Jonah 1:6 (Tanakh)

Jonah 1:6 (KJV)

Jonah 1:6 (NET)

So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him: ‘What meanest thou that thou sleepest? arise, call upon thy G-d, if so be that G-d will think upon us, that we perish not.’ So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not. The ship’s captain approached him and said, “What are you doing asleep? Get up! Cry out to your god! Perhaps your god might take notice of us so that we might not die!”

Jonah 1:6 (BLB Septuagint)

Jonah 1:6 (Elpenor Septuagint)

καὶ προσῆλθεν πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ πρωρεὺς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ τί σὺ ῥέγχεις ἀνάστα καὶ ἐπικαλοῦ τὸν θεόν σου ὅπως διασώσῃ ὁ θεὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ μὴ ἀπολώμεθα καὶ προσῆλθε πρὸς αὐτὸν ὁ πρωρεὺς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ· τί σὺ ῥέγχεις; ἀνάστα καὶ ἐπικαλοῦ τὸν Θεόν σου, ὅπως διασώσῃ ὁ Θεὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ οὐ μὴ ἀπολώμεθα

Jonah 1:6 (NETS)

Jonah 1:6 (Elpenor English)

And the captain came to him and said to him, “Why are you snoring? Get up, invoke your god in order that the god might deliver us and we not perish.” And the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, Why snorest οὐ thou? arise, and call upon thy God, that God may save us, and we perish not.

Luke 8:22 (NET)

Luke 8:22 (KJV)

One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

Luke 8:22 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:22 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:22 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν μιᾷ τῶν ἡμερῶν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐνέβη εἰς πλοῖον καὶ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· διέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ πέραν τῆς λίμνης, καὶ ἀνήχθησαν και εγενετο εν μια των ημερων και αυτος ενεβη εις πλοιον και οι μαθηται αυτου και ειπεν προς αυτους διελθωμεν εις το περαν της λιμνης και ανηχθησαν και εγενετο εν μια των ημερων και αυτος ενεβη εις πλοιον και οι μαθηται αυτου και ειπεν προς αυτους διελθωμεν εις το περαν της λιμνης και ανηχθησαν

Luke 8:24-27 (NET)

Luke 8:24-27 (KJV)

They came and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are about to die!” So he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they died down, and it was calm. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Luke 8:24 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)

προσελθόντες δὲ διήγειραν αὐτὸν λέγοντες· ἐπιστάτα ἐπιστάτα, ἀπολλύμεθα. ὁ δὲ διεγερθεὶς ἐπετίμησεν τῷ ἀνέμῳ καὶ τῷ κλύδωνι τοῦ ὕδατος· καὶ ἐπαύσαντο καὶ ἐγένετο γαλήνη προσελθοντες δε διηγειραν αυτον λεγοντες επιστατα επιστατα απολλυμεθα ο δε εγερθεις επετιμησεν τω ανεμω και τω κλυδωνι του υδατος και επαυσαντο και εγενετο γαληνη προσελθοντες δε διηγειραν αυτον λεγοντες επιστατα επιστατα απολλυμεθα ο δε εγερθεις επετιμησεν τω ανεμω και τω κλυδωνι του υδατος και επαυσαντο και εγενετο γαληνη
Then he said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were afraid and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!” And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

Luke 8:25 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)

εἶπεν δὲ αὐτοῖς· ποῦ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν; φοβηθέντες δὲ ἐθαύμασαν λέγοντες πρὸς ἀλλήλους· τίς ἄρα οὗτος ἐστιν ὅτι καὶ τοῖς ἀνέμοις ἐπιτάσσει καὶ τῷ ὕδατι, καὶ ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ ειπεν δε αυτοις που εστιν η πιστις υμων φοβηθεντες δε εθαυμασαν λεγοντες προς αλληλους τις αρα ουτος εστιν οτι και τοις ανεμοις επιτασσει και τω υδατι και υπακουουσιν αυτω ειπεν δε αυτοις που εστιν η πιστις υμων φοβηθεντες δε εθαυμασαν λεγοντες προς αλληλους τις αρα ουτος εστιν οτι και τοις ανεμοις επιτασσει και τω υδατι και υπακουουσιν αυτω
So they sailed over to the region of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

Luke 8:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ κατέπλευσαν εἰς τὴν χώραν τῶν Γερασηνῶν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ἀντιπέρα τῆς Γαλιλαίας και κατεπλευσαν εις την χωραν των γαδαρηνων ητις εστιν αντιπεραν της γαλιλαιας και κατεπλευσαν εις την χωραν των γαδαρηνων ητις εστιν αντιπεραν της γαλιλαιας
As Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man from the town met him who was possessed by demons. For a long time this man had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house, but among the tombs. And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

Luke 8:27 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:27 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:27 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐξελθόντι δὲ αὐτῷ ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ὑπήντησεν ἀνήρ τις ἐκ τῆς πόλεως ἔχων δαιμόνια καὶ χρόνῳ ἱκανῷ οὐκ ἐνεδύσατο ἱμάτιον καὶ ἐν οἰκίᾳ οὐκ ἔμενεν ἀλλ᾿ ἐν τοῖς μνήμασιν εξελθοντι δε αυτω επι την γην υπηντησεν αυτω ανηρ τις εκ της πολεως ος ειχεν δαιμονια εκ χρονων ικανων και ιματιον ουκ ενεδιδυσκετο και εν οικια ουκ εμενεν αλλ εν τοις μνημασιν εξελθοντι δε αυτω επι την γην υπηντησεν αυτω ανηρ τις εκ της πολεως ος ειχεν δαιμονια εκ χρονων ικανων και ιματιον ουκ ενεδιδυσκετο και εν οικια ουκ εμενεν αλλ εν τοις μνημασιν

Luke 8:29-35 (NET)

Luke 8:29-35 (KJV)

For Jesus had started commanding the evil spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so he would be bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard. But he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted places.) (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

Luke 8:29 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:29 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:29 (Byzantine Majority Text)

|παρήγγελλεν| γὰρ τῷ πνεύματι τῷ ἀκαθάρτῳ ἐξελθεῖν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου. (πολλοῖς γὰρ χρόνοις συνηρπάκει αὐτὸν καὶ ἐδεσμεύετο ἁλύσεσιν καὶ πέδαις φυλασσόμενος καὶ διαρρήσσων τὰ δεσμὰ ἠλαύνετο |ὑπὸ| τοῦ δαιμονίου εἰς τὰς ἐρήμους) παρηγγελλεν γαρ τω πνευματι τω ακαθαρτω εξελθειν απο του ανθρωπου πολλοις γαρ χρονοις συνηρπακει αυτον και εδεσμειτο αλυσεσιν και πεδαις φυλασσομενος και διαρρησσων τα δεσμα ηλαυνετο υπο του δαιμονος εις τας ερημους παρηγγειλεν γαρ τω πνευματι τω ακαθαρτω εξελθειν απο του ανθρωπου πολλοις γαρ χρονοις συνηρπακει αυτον και εδεσμειτο αλυσεσιν και πεδαις φυλασσομενος και διαρρησσων τα δεσμα ηλαυνετο υπο του δαιμονος εις τας ερημους
Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

Luke 8:30 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:30 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:30 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐπηρώτησεν δὲ αὐτὸν ὁ Ἰησοῦς· τί σοι ὄνομα ἐστιν; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· λεγιών, ὅτι εἰσῆλθεν δαιμόνια πολλὰ εἰς αὐτόν επηρωτησεν δε αυτον ο ιησους λεγων τι σοι εστιν ονομα ο δε ειπεν λεγεων οτι δαιμονια πολλα εισηλθεν εις αυτον επηρωτησεν δε αυτον ο ιησους λεγων τι σοι εστιν ονομα ο δε ειπεν λεγεων οτι δαιμονια πολλα εισηλθεν εις αυτον
And they began to beg him not to order them to depart into the abyss. And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

Luke 8:31 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:31 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:31 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ παρεκάλουν αὐτὸν ἵνα μὴ ἐπιτάξῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν ἄβυσσον ἀπελθεῖν και παρεκαλει αυτον ινα μη επιταξη αυτοις εις την αβυσσον απελθειν και παρεκαλει αυτον ινα μη επιταξη αυτοις εις την αβυσσον απελθειν
Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and the demonic spirits begged Jesus to let them go into them. He gave them permission. And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

Luke 8:32 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:32 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:32 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἦν δὲ ἐκεῖ ἀγέλη χοίρων ἱκανῶν βοσκομένη ἐν τῷ ὄρει· καὶ παρεκάλεσαν αὐτὸν ἵνα ἐπιτρέψῃ αὐτοῖς εἰς ἐκείνους εἰσελθεῖν· καὶ ἐπέτρεψεν αὐτοῖς ην δε εκει αγελη χοιρων ικανων βοσκομενων εν τω ορει και παρεκαλουν αυτον ινα επιτρεψη αυτοις εις εκεινους εισελθειν και επετρεψεν αυτοις ην δε εκει αγελη χοιρων ικανων βοσκομενων εν τω ορει και παρεκαλουν αυτον ινα επιτρεψη αυτοις εις εκεινους εισελθειν και επετρεψεν αυτοις
So the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd of pigs rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

Luke 8:33 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:33 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:33 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐξελθόντα δὲ τὰ δαιμόνια ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰσῆλθον εἰς τοὺς χοίρους, καὶ ὥρμησεν ἡ ἀγέλη κατὰ τοῦ κρημνοῦ εἰς τὴν λίμνην καὶ ἀπεπνίγη εξελθοντα δε τα δαιμονια απο του ανθρωπου εισηλθεν εις τους χοιρους και ωρμησεν η αγελη κατα του κρημνου εις την λιμνην και απεπνιγη εξελθοντα δε τα δαιμονια απο του ανθρωπου εισηλθον εις τους χοιρους και ωρμησεν η αγελη κατα του κρημνου εις την λιμνην και απεπνιγη
When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran off and spread the news in the town and countryside. When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

Luke 8:34 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:34 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:34 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ βόσκοντες τὸ γεγονὸς ἔφυγον καὶ ἀπήγγειλαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ εἰς τοὺς ἀγρούς ιδοντες δε οι βοσκοντες το γεγενημενον εφυγον και απελθοντες απηγγειλαν εις την πολιν και εις τους αγρους ιδοντες δε οι βοσκοντες το γεγενημενον εφυγον και απηγγειλαν εις την πολιν και εις τους αγρους
So the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus. They found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

Luke 8:35 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:35 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:35 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐξῆλθον δὲ ἰδεῖν τὸ γεγονὸς καὶ ἦλθον πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν καὶ εὗρον καθήμενον τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἀφ᾿ οὗ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐξῆλθεν ἱματισμένον καὶ σωφρονοῦντα παρὰ τοὺς πόδας |τοῦ| Ἰησοῦ, καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν εξηλθον δε ιδειν το γεγονος και ηλθον προς τον ιησουν και ευρον καθημενον τον ανθρωπον αφ ου τα δαιμονια εξεληλυθει ιματισμενον και σωφρονουντα παρα τους ποδας του ιησου και εφοβηθησαν εξηλθον δε ιδειν το γεγονος και ηλθον προς τον ιησουν και ευρον καθημενον τον ανθρωπον αφ ου τα δαιμονια εξεληλυθει ιματισμενον και σωφρονουντα παρα τους ποδας του ιησου και εφοβηθησαν

Luke 8:37, 38 (NET)

Luke 8:37, 38 (KJV)

Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and left. Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

Luke 8:37 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:37 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:37 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἠρώτησεν αὐτὸν ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος τῆς περιχώρου τῶν Γερασηνῶν ἀπελθεῖν ἀπ᾿ αὐτῶν, ὅτι φόβῳ μεγάλῳ συνείχοντο· αὐτὸς δὲ ἐμβὰς εἰς πλοῖον ὑπέστρεψεν και ηρωτησαν αυτον απαν το πληθος της περιχωρου των γαδαρηνων απελθειν απ αυτων οτι φοβω μεγαλω συνειχοντο αυτος δε εμβας εις το πλοιον υπεστρεψεν και ηρωτησαν αυτον απαν το πληθος της περιχωρου των γαδαρηνων απελθειν απ αυτων οτι φοβω μεγαλω συνειχοντο αυτος δε εμβας εις το πλοιον υπεστρεψεν
The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Luke 8:38 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐδεῖτο δὲ αὐτοῦ ὁ ἀνὴρ ἀφ᾿ οὗ ἐξεληλύθει τὰ δαιμόνια εἶναι σὺν αὐτῷ· ἀπέλυσεν δὲ αὐτὸν λέγων εδεετο δε αυτου ο ανηρ αφ ου εξεληλυθει τα δαιμονια ειναι συν αυτω απελυσεν δε αυτον ο ιησους λεγων εδεετο δε αυτου ο ανηρ αφ ου εξεληλυθει τα δαιμονια ειναι συν αυτω απελυσεν δε αυτον ο ιησους λεγων

Luke 8:41 (NET)

Luke 8:41 (KJV)

Then a man named Jairus, who was a leader of the synagogue, came up. Falling at Jesus’ feet, he pleaded with him to come to his house, And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

Luke 8:41 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:41 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:41 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἰδοὺ ἦλθεν ἀνὴρ ᾧ ὄνομα Ἰάϊρος καὶ οὗτος ἄρχων τῆς συναγωγῆς ὑπῆρχεν, καὶ πεσὼν παρὰ τοὺς πόδας [τοῦ] Ἰησοῦ παρεκάλει αὐτὸν εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ και ιδου ηλθεν ανηρ ω ονομα ιαειρος και αυτος αρχων της συναγωγης υπηρχεν και πεσων παρα τους ποδας του ιησου παρεκαλει αυτον εισελθειν εις τον οικον αυτου και ιδου ηλθεν ανηρ ω ονομα ιαειρος και αυτος αρχων της συναγωγης υπηρχεν και πεσων παρα τους ποδας του ιησου παρεκαλει αυτον εισελθειν εις τον οικον αυτου

Luke 8:43 (NET)

Luke 8:43 (KJV)

Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years but could not be healed by anyone. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

Luke 8:43 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:43 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:43 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ γυνὴ οὖσα ἐν ρύσει αἵματος ἀπὸ ἐτῶν δώδεκα, ἥτις οὐκ ἴσχυσεν ἀπ᾿ οὐδενὸς θεραπευθῆναι και γυνη ουσα εν ρυσει αιματος απο ετων δωδεκα ητις εις ιατρους προσαναλωσασα ολον τον βιον ουκ ισχυσεν υπ ουδενος θεραπευθηναι και γυνη ουσα εν ρυσει αιματος απο ετων δωδεκα ητις ιατροις προσαναλωσασα ολον τον βιον ουκ ισχυσεν υπ ουδενος θεραπευθηναι

Luke 8:45-52 (NET)

Luke 8:45-52 (KJV)

Then Jesus asked, “Who was it who touched me?” When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing against you!” And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

Luke 8:45 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:45 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:45 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς· τίς ὁ ἁψάμενος μου; ἀρνουμένων δὲ πάντων εἶπεν ὁ Πέτρος· ἐπιστάτα, οἱ ὄχλοι συνέχουσιν σε καὶ ἀποθλίβουσιν και ειπεν ο ιησους τις ο αψαμενος μου αρνουμενων δε παντων ειπεν ο πετρος και οι μετ αυτου επιστατα οι οχλοι συνεχουσιν σε και αποθλιβουσιν και λεγεις τις ο αψαμενος μου και ειπεν ο ιησους τις ο αψαμενος μου αρνουμενων δε παντων ειπεν ο πετρος και οι μετ αυτου επιστατα οι οχλοι συνεχουσιν σε και αποθλιβουσιν και λεγεις τις ο αψαμενος μου
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out from me.” And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

Luke 8:46 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:46 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:46 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν· ἥψατο μού τις, ἐγὼ γὰρ ἔγνων δύναμιν ἐξεληλυθυῖαν ἀπ᾿ ἐμοῦ ο δε ιησους ειπεν ηψατο μου τις εγω γαρ εγνων δυναμιν εξελθουσαν απ εμου ο δε ιησους ειπεν ηψατο μου τις εγω γαρ εγνων δυναμιν εξελθουσαν απ εμου
When the woman saw that she could not escape notice, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed. And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

Luke 8:47 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:47 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:47 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἰδοῦσα δὲ ἡ γυνὴ ὅτι οὐκ ἔλαθεν, τρέμουσα ἦλθεν καὶ προσπεσοῦσα αὐτῷ δι᾿ ἣν αἰτίαν ἥψατο αὐτοῦ ἀπήγγειλεν ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ὡς ἰάθη παραχρῆμα ιδουσα δε η γυνη οτι ουκ ελαθεν τρεμουσα ηλθεν και προσπεσουσα αυτω δι ην αιτιαν ηψατο αυτου απηγγειλεν αυτω ενωπιον παντος του λαου και ως ιαθη παραχρημα ιδουσα δε η γυνη οτι ουκ ελαθεν τρεμουσα ηλθεν και προσπεσουσα αυτω δι ην αιτιαν ηψατο αυτου απηγγειλεν αυτω ενωπιον παντος του λαου και ως ιαθη παραχρημα
Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

Luke 8:48 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:48 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:48 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ εἶπεν αὐτῇ· θυγάτηρ, ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκεν σε· πορεύου εἰς εἰρήνην ο δε ειπεν αυτη θαρσει θυγατερ η πιστις σου σεσωκεν σε πορευου εις ειρηνην ο δε ειπεν αυτη θαρσει θυγατερ η πιστις σου σεσωκεν σε πορευου εις ειρηνην
While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue leader’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

Luke 8:49 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:49 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:49 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ἔρχεται τις παρὰ τοῦ ἀρχισυναγώγου λέγων ὅτι τέθνηκεν ἡ θυγάτηρ σου· μηκέτι σκύλλε τὸν διδάσκαλον ετι αυτου λαλουντος ερχεται τις παρα του αρχισυναγωγου λεγων αυτω οτι τεθνηκεν η θυγατηρ σου μη σκυλλε τον διδασκαλον ετι αυτου λαλουντος ερχεται τις παρα του αρχισυναγωγου λεγων αυτω οτι τεθνηκεν η θυγατηρ σου μη σκυλλε τον διδασκαλον
But when Jesus heard this, he told him, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

Luke 8:50 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:50 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:50 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς ἀκούσας ἀπεκρίθη αὐτῷ· μὴ φοβοῦ, μόνον πίστευσον, καὶ σωθήσεται ο δε ιησους ακουσας απεκριθη αυτω λεγων μη φοβου μονον πιστευε και σωθησεται ο δε ιησους ακουσας απεκριθη αυτω λεγων μη φοβου μονον πιστευε και σωθησεται
Now when he came to the house, Jesus did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

Luke 8:51 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:51 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:51 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐλθὼν δὲ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν οὐκ ἀφῆκεν εἰσελθεῖν τινα σὺν αὐτῷ εἰ μὴ Πέτρον καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ τὸν πατέρα τῆς παιδὸς καὶ τὴν μητέρα εισελθων δε εις την οικιαν ουκ αφηκεν εισελθειν ουδενα ει μη πετρον και ιακωβον και ιωαννην και τον πατερα της παιδος και την μητερα ελθων δε εις την οικιαν ουκ αφηκεν εισελθειν ουδενα ει μη πετρον και ιωαννην και ιακωβον και τον πατερα της παιδος και την μητερα
Now they were all wailing and mourning for her, but he said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep!” And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

Luke 8:52 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:52 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:52 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἔκλαιον δὲ πάντες καὶ ἐκόπτοντο αὐτήν. ὁ δὲ εἶπεν· μὴ κλαίετε, οὐ γὰρ ἀπέθανεν ἀλλὰ καθεύδει εκλαιον δε παντες και εκοπτοντο αυτην ο δε ειπεν μη κλαιετε ουκ απεθανεν αλλα καθευδει εκλαιον δε παντες και εκοπτοντο αυτην ο δε ειπεν μη κλαιετε ουκ απεθανεν αλλα καθευδει

Luke 8:54 (NET)

Luke 8:54 (KJV)

But Jesus gently took her by the hand and said, “Child, get up.” And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

Luke 8:54 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 8:54 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 8:54 (Byzantine Majority Text)

αὐτὸς δὲ κρατήσας τῆς χειρὸς αὐτῆς ἐφώνησεν λέγων· ἡ παῖς, ἔγειρε αυτος δε εκβαλων εξω παντας και κρατησας της χειρος αυτης εφωνησεν λεγων η παις εγειρου αυτος δε εκβαλων εξω παντας και κρατησας της χειρος αυτης εφωνησεν λεγων η παις εγειρου

Matthew 9:9 (NET)

Matthew 9:9 (KJV)

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow me,” he said to him. So he got up and followed him. And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Matthew 9:9 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 9:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 9:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ παράγων ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐκεῖθεν εἶδεν ἄνθρωπον καθήμενον ἐπὶ τὸ τελώνιον, Μαθθαῖον λεγόμενον, καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ· ἀκολούθει μοι. καὶ ἀναστὰς ἠκολούθησεν αὐτῷ και παραγων ο ιησους εκειθεν ειδεν ανθρωπον καθημενον επι το τελωνιον ματθαιον λεγομενον και λεγει αυτω ακολουθει μοι και αναστας ηκολουθησεν αυτω και παραγων ο ιησους εκειθεν ειδεν ανθρωπον καθημενον επι το τελωνιον ματθαιον λεγομενον και λεγει αυτω ακολουθει μοι και αναστας ηκολουθησεν αυτω

Matthew 9:11-13 (NET)

Matthew 9:11-13 (KJV)

When the Pharisees saw this they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?

Matthew 9:11 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 9:11 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 9:11 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἰδόντες οἱ Φαρισαῖοι ἔλεγον τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· διὰ τί μετὰ τῶν τελωνῶν καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἐσθίει ὁ διδάσκαλος ὑμῶν και ιδοντες οι φαρισαιοι ειπον τοις μαθηταις αυτου δια τι μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιει ο διδασκαλος υμων και ιδοντες οι φαρισαιοι ειπον τοις μαθηταις αυτου δια τι μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιει ο διδασκαλος υμων
When Jesus heard this he said, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.

Matthew 9:12 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 9:12 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 9:12 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ ἀκούσας εἶπεν· οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν οἱ ἰσχύοντες ἰατροῦ ἀλλ᾿ οἱ κακῶς ἔχοντες ο δε ιησους ακουσας ειπεν αυτοις ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι ισχυοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες ο δε ιησους ακουσας ειπεν αυτοις ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι ισχυοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες
Go and learn what this saying means: ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Matthew 9:13 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 9:13 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 9:13 (Byzantine Majority Text)

πορευθέντες δὲ μάθετε τί ἐστιν· ἔλεος θέλω καὶ οὐ θυσίαν· οὐ γὰρ ἦλθον καλέσαι δικαίους ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλούς πορευθεντες δε μαθετε τι εστιν ελεον θελω και ου θυσιαν ου γαρ ηλθον καλεσαι δικαιους αλλ αμαρτωλους εις μετανοιαν πορευθεντες δε μαθετε τι εστιν ελεον θελω και ου θυσιαν ου γαρ ηλθον καλεσαι δικαιους αλλα αμαρτωλους εις μετανοιαν

Mark 2:15-17 (NET)

Mark 2:15-17 (KJV)

As Jesus was having a meal in Levi’s home, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

Mark 2:15 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 2:15 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 2:15 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ γίνεται κατακεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πολλοὶ τελῶναι καὶ ἁμαρτωλοὶ συνανέκειντο τῷ Ἰησοῦ καὶ τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· ἦσαν γὰρ πολλοὶ καὶ ἠκολούθουν αὐτῷ και εγενετο εν τω κατακεισθαι αυτον εν τη οικια αυτου και πολλοι τελωναι και αμαρτωλοι συνανεκειντο τω ιησου και τοις μαθηταις αυτου ησαν γαρ πολλοι και ηκολουθησαν αυτω και εγενετο εν τω κατακεισθαι αυτον εν τη οικια αυτου και πολλοι τελωναι και αμαρτωλοι συνανεκειντο τω ιησου και τοις μαθηταις αυτου ησαν γαρ πολλοι και ηκολουθησαν αυτω
When the experts in the law and the Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

Mark 2:16 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 2:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 2:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς τῶν Φαρισαίων ἰδόντες ὅτι ἐσθίει μετὰ τῶν ἁμαρτωλῶν καὶ τελωνῶν ἔλεγον τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ· ὅτι μετὰ τῶν τελωνῶν καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἐσθίει και οι γραμματεις και οι φαρισαιοι ιδοντες αυτον εσθιοντα μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων ελεγον τοις μαθηταις αυτου τι οτι μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιει και πινει και οι γραμματεις και οι φαρισαιοι ιδοντες αυτον εσθιοντα μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων ελεγον τοις μαθηταις αυτου τι οτι μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιει και πινει
When Jesus heard this he said to them, “Those who are healthy don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Mark 2:17 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 2:17 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 2:17 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἀκούσας ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγει αὐτοῖς [ὅτι] οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν οἱ ἰσχύοντες ἰατροῦ ἀλλ᾿ οἱ κακῶς ἔχοντες· οὐκ ἦλθον καλέσαι δικαίους ἀλλὰ ἁμαρτωλούς και ακουσας ο ιησους λεγει αυτοις ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι ισχυοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες ουκ ηλθον καλεσαι δικαιους αλλα αμαρτωλους εις μετανοιαν και ακουσας ο ιησους λεγει αυτοις ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι ισχυοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες ουκ ηλθον καλεσαι δικαιους αλλα αμαρτωλους εις μετανοιαν

Luke 5:28-31 (NET)

Luke 5:28-31 (KJV)

And he got up and followed him, leaving everything behind. And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

Luke 5:28 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 5:28 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 5:28 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ καταλιπὼν πάντα ἀναστὰς ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ και καταλιπων απαντα αναστας ηκολουθησεν αυτω και καταλιπων απαντα αναστας ηκολουθησεν αυτω
Then Levi gave a great banquet in his house for Jesus, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting at the table with them. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

Luke 5:29 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 5:29 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 5:29 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Καὶ ἐποίησεν δοχὴν μεγάλην Λευὶς αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἦν ὄχλος πολὺς τελωνῶν καὶ ἄλλων οἳ ἦσαν μετ᾿ αὐτῶν κατακείμενοι και εποιησεν δοχην μεγαλην ο λευις αυτω εν τη οικια αυτου και ην οχλος τελωνων πολυς και αλλων οι ησαν μετ αυτων κατακειμενοι και εποιησεν δοχην μεγαλην λευις αυτω εν τη οικια αυτου και ην οχλος τελωνων πολυς και αλλων οι ησαν μετ αυτων κατακειμενοι
But the Pharisees and their experts in the law complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

Luke 5:30 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 5:30 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 5:30 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἐγόγγυζον οἱ Φαρισαῖοι καὶ οἱ γραμματεῖς αὐτῶν πρὸς τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ λέγοντες· διὰ τί μετὰ τῶν τελωνῶν καὶ ἁμαρτωλῶν ἐσθίετε καὶ πίνετε και εγογγυζον οι γραμματεις αυτων και οι φαρισαιοι προς τους μαθητας αυτου λεγοντες δια τι μετα τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιετε και πινετε και εγογγυζον οι γραμματεις αυτων και οι φαρισαιοι προς τους μαθητας αυτου λεγοντες δια τι μετα των τελωνων και αμαρτωλων εσθιετε και πινετε
Jesus answered them, “Those who are well don’t need a physician, but those who are sick do. And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

Luke 5:31 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 5:31 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 5:31 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς |ὁ| Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς· οὐ χρείαν ἔχουσιν οἱ ὑγιαίνοντες ἰατροῦ ἀλλὰ οἱ κακῶς ἔχοντες και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν προς αυτους ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι υγιαινοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν προς αυτους ου χρειαν εχουσιν οι υγιαινοντες ιατρου αλλ οι κακως εχοντες

Matthew 10:3, 4 (NET)

Matthew 10:3, 4 (KJV)

Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

Matthew 10:3 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 10:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 10:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Φίλιππος καὶ Βαρθολομαῖος, Θωμᾶς καὶ Μαθθαῖος ὁ τελώνης, Ἰάκωβος ὁ τοῦ Ἁλφαίου καὶ Θαδδαῖος φιλιππος και βαρθολομαιος θωμας και ματθαιος ο τελωνης ιακωβος ο του αλφαιου και λεββαιος ο επικληθεις θαδδαιος φιλιππος και βαρθολομαιος θωμας και ματθαιος ο τελωνης ιακωβος ο του αλφαιου και λεββαιος ο επικληθεις θαδδαιος
Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

Matthew 10:4 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 10:4 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 10:4 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Σίμων ὁ Καναναῖος καὶ Ἰούδας Ἰσκαριώτης ὁ καὶ παραδοὺς αὐτόν σιμων ο κανανιτης και ιουδας ισκαριωτης ο και παραδους αυτον σιμων ο κανανιτης και ιουδας ισκαριωτης ο και παραδους αυτον

Mark 3:14-16 (NET)

Mark 3:14-16 (KJV)

He appointed 12 so that they would be with him and he could send them to preach And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

Mark 3:14 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 3:14 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 3:14 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἐποίησεν δώδεκα ([οὓς καὶ ἀποστόλους ὠνόμασεν]), ἵνα ὦσιν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἵνα ἀποστέλλῃ αὐτοὺς κηρύσσειν και εποιησεν δωδεκα ινα ωσιν μετ αυτου και ινα αποστελλη αυτους κηρυσσειν και εποιησεν δωδεκα ινα ωσιν μετ αυτου και ινα αποστελλη αυτους κηρυσσειν
and to have authority to cast out demons. And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:

Mark 3:15 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 3:15 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 3:15 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἔχειν ἐξουσίαν ἐκβάλλειν τὰ δαιμόνια και εχειν εξουσιαν θεραπευειν τας νοσους και εκβαλλειν τα δαιμονια και εχειν εξουσιαν θεραπευειν τας νοσους και εκβαλλειν τα δαιμονια
To Simon he gave the name Peter; And Simon he surnamed Peter;

Mark 3:16 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 3:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 3:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)

[καὶ ἐποίησεν τοὺς δώδεκα,] καὶ ἐπέθηκεν ὄνομα τῷ Σίμωνι Πέτρον και επεθηκεν τω σιμωνι ονομα πετρον και επεθηκεν τω σιμωνι ονομα πετρον

Mark 3:18, 19 (NET)

Mark 3:18, 19 (KJV)

and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

Mark 3:18 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 3:18 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 3:18 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ Ἀνδρέαν καὶ Φίλιππον καὶ Βαρθολομαῖον καὶ Μαθθαῖον καὶ Θωμᾶν καὶ Ἰάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ἁλφαίου καὶ Θαδδαῖον καὶ Σίμωνα τὸν Καναναῖον και ανδρεαν και φιλιππον και βαρθολομαιον και ματθαιον και θωμαν και ιακωβον τον του αλφαιου και θαδδαιον και σιμωνα τον κανανιτην και ανδρεαν και φιλιππον και βαρθολομαιον και ματθαιον και θωμαν και ιακωβον τον του αλφαιου και θαδδαιον και σιμωνα τον κανανιτην
and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. (20a) Now Jesus went home And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.

Mark 3:19, 20a (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 3:19 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 3:19 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ Ἰούδαν Ἰσκαριώθ, ὃς καὶ παρέδωκεν αὐτόν (20a) Καὶ ἔρχεται εἰς οἶκον· και ιουδαν ισκαριωτην ος και παρεδωκεν αυτον και ερχονται εις οικον και ιουδαν ισκαριωτην ος και παρεδωκεν αυτον και ερχονται εις οικον

Luke 6:12 (NET)

Luke 6:12 (KJV)

Now it was during this time that Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent all night in prayer to God. And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 6:12 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 6:12 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ταύταις ἐξελθεῖν αὐτὸν εἰς τὸ ὄρος προσεύξασθαι, καὶ ἦν διανυκτερεύων ἐν τῇ προσευχῇ τοῦ θεοῦ εγενετο δε εν ταις ημεραις ταυταις εξηλθεν εις το ορος προσευξασθαι και ην διανυκτερευων εν τη προσευχη του θεου εγενετο δε εν ταις ημεραις ταυταις εξηλθεν εις το ορος προσευξασθαι και ην διανυκτερευων εν τη προσευχη του θεου

Luke 6:14-16 (NET)

Luke 6:14-16 (KJV)

Simon (whom he named Peter), and his brother Andrew; and James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

Luke 6:14 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 6:14 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 6:14 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Σίμωνα (ὃν καὶ ὠνόμασεν Πέτρον), καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ Ἰάκωβον καὶ Ἰωάννην καὶ Φίλιππον καὶ Βαρθολομαῖον σιμωνα ον και ωνομασεν πετρον και ανδρεαν τον αδελφον αυτου ιακωβον και ιωαννην φιλιππον και βαρθολομαιον σιμωνα ον και ωνομασεν πετρον και ανδρεαν τον αδελφον αυτου ιακωβον και ιωαννην φιλιππον και βαρθολομαιον
Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

Luke 6:15 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 6:15 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 6:15 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ Μαθθαῖον καὶ Θωμᾶν |καὶ| Ἰάκωβον Ἁλφαίου καὶ Σίμωνα τὸν καλούμενον ζηλωτὴν ματθαιον και θωμαν ιακωβον τον του αλφαιου και σιμωνα τον καλουμενον ζηλωτην ματθαιον και θωμαν ιακωβον τον του αλφαιου και σιμωνα τον καλουμενον ζηλωτην
Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

Luke 6:16 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 6:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 6:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ Ἰούδαν Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰούδαν Ἰσκαριώθ, ὃς ἐγένετο προδότης ιουδαν ιακωβου και ιουδαν ισκαριωτην ος και εγενετο προδοτης ιουδαν ιακωβου και ιουδαν ισκαριωτην ος και εγενετο προδοτης

Mark 4:3-6 (NET)

Mark 4:3-6 (KJV)

“Listen! A sower went out to sow. Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

Mark 4:3 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἀκούετε. ἰδοὺ ἐξῆλθεν ὁ σπείρων σπεῖραι ακουετε ιδου εξηλθεν ο σπειρων του σπειραι ακουετε ιδου εξηλθεν ο σπειρων του σπειραι
And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

Mark 4:4 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:4 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:4 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ σπείρειν ὃ μὲν ἔπεσεν παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν, καὶ ἦλθεν τὰ πετεινὰ καὶ κατέφαγεν αὐτό και εγενετο εν τω σπειρειν ο μεν επεσεν παρα την οδον και ηλθεν τα πετεινα του ουρανου και κατεφαγεν αυτο και εγενετο εν τω σπειρειν ο μεν επεσεν παρα την οδον και ηλθεν τα πετεινα και κατεφαγεν αυτο
Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

Mark 4:5 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:5 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:5 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἄλλο ἔπεσεν ἐπὶ τὸ πετρῶδες ὅπου οὐκ εἶχεν γῆν πολλήν, καὶ εὐθὺς ἐξανέτειλεν διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν βάθος γῆς αλλο δε επεσεν επι το πετρωδες οπου ουκ ειχεν γην πολλην και ευθεως εξανετειλεν δια το μη εχειν βαθος γης αλλο δε επεσεν επι το πετρωδες οπου ουκ ειχεν γην πολλην και ευθεως εξανετειλεν δια το μη εχειν βαθος γης
When the sun came up it was scorched, and because it did not have sufficient root, it withered. But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Mark 4:6 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:6 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:6 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ὅτε ἀνέτειλεν ἥλιος ἐκαυματίσθη καὶ διὰ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ρίζαν ἐξηράνθη ηλιου δε ανατειλαντος εκαυματισθη και δια το μη εχειν ριζαν εξηρανθη ηλιου δε ανατειλαντος εκαυματισθη και δια το μη εχειν ριζαν εξηρανθη

Mark 4:8, 9 (NET)

Mark 4:8, 9 (KJV)

But other seed fell on good soil and produced grain, sprouting and growing; some yielded thirty times as much, some sixty, and some a hundred times.” And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

Mark 4:8 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:8 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:8 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἄλλα ἔπεσεν εἰς τὴν γῆν τὴν καλὴν καὶ ἐδίδου καρπὸν ἀναβαίνοντα καὶ αὐξανόμενα καὶ ἔφερεν |ἓν| τριάκοντα καὶ ἓν ἑξήκοντα καὶ ἓν ἑκατόν και αλλο επεσεν εις την γην την καλην και εδιδου καρπον αναβαινοντα και αυξανοντα και εφερεν εν τριακοντα και εν εξηκοντα και εν εκατον και αλλο επεσεν εις την γην την καλην και εδιδου καρπον αναβαινοντα και αυξανοντα και εφερεν εν τριακοντα και εν εξηκοντα και εν εκατον
And he said, “Whoever has ears to hear had better listen!” And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:9 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἔλεγεν· ὃς ἔχει ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω και ελεγεν αυτοις ο εχων ωτα ακουειν ακουετω και ελεγεν ο εχων ωτα ακουειν ακουετω

Mark 4:16-19 (NET)

Mark 4:16-19 (KJV)

These are the ones sown on rocky ground: As soon as they hear the word, they receive it with joy. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

Mark 4:16 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:16 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:16 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ οὗτοι εἰσιν οἱ ἐπὶ τὰ πετρώδη σπειρόμενοι, οἳ ὅταν ἀκούσωσιν τὸν λόγον εὐθὺς μετὰ χαρᾶς λαμβάνουσιν αὐτόν και ουτοι εισιν ομοιως οι επι τα πετρωδη σπειρομενοι οι οταν ακουσωσιν τον λογον ευθεως μετα χαρας λαμβανουσιν αυτον και ουτοι εισιν ομοιως οι επι τα πετρωδη σπειρομενοι οι οταν ακουσωσιν τον λογον ευθεως μετα χαρας λαμβανουσιν αυτον
But they have no root in themselves and do not endure. Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away. And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

Mark 4:17 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:17 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:17 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ οὐκ ἔχουσιν ρίζαν ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἀλλὰ πρόσκαιροι εἰσιν, εἶτα γενομένης θλίψεως ἢ διωγμοῦ διὰ τὸν λόγον εὐθὺς σκανδαλίζονται και ουκ εχουσιν ριζαν εν εαυτοις αλλα προσκαιροι εισιν ειτα γενομενης θλιψεως η διωγμου δια τον λογον ευθεως σκανδαλιζονται και ουκ εχουσιν ριζαν εν εαυτοις αλλα προσκαιροι εισιν ειτα γενομενης θλιψεως η διωγμου δια τον λογον ευθεως σκανδαλιζονται
Others are the ones sown among thorns: They are those who hear the word, And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

Mark 4:18 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:18 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:18 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἄλλοι εἰσὶν οἱ εἰς τὰς ἀκάνθας σπειρόμενοι· οὗτοι εἰσιν οἱ τὸν λόγον ἀκούσαντες και ουτοι εισιν οι εις τας ακανθας σπειρομενοι ουτοι εισιν οι τον λογον ακουοντες και ουτοι εισιν οι εις τας ακανθας σπειρομενοι οι τον λογον ακουοντες
but worldly cares, the seductiveness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it produces nothing. And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Mark 4:19 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:19 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:19 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ αἱ μέριμναι τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ ἡ ἀπάτη τοῦ πλούτου καὶ αἱ περὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἐπιθυμίαι εἰσπορευόμεναι συμπνίγουσιν τὸν λόγον καὶ ἄκαρπος γίνεται και αι μεριμναι του αιωνος τουτου και η απατη του πλουτου και αι περι τα λοιπα επιθυμιαι εισπορευομεναι συμπνιγουσιν τον λογον και ακαρπος γινεται και αι μεριμναι του αιωνος τουτου και η απατη του πλουτου και αι περι τα λοιπα επιθυμιαι εισπορευομεναι συμπνιγουσιν τον λογον και ακαρπος γινεται

Acts 27:21-23 (NET)

Acts 27:21-23 (KJV)

Since many of them had no desire to eat, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not put out to sea from Crete, thus avoiding this damage and loss. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

Acts 27:21 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 27:21 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 27:21 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Πολλῆς τε ἀσιτίας ὑπαρχούσης τότε σταθεὶς ὁ Παῦλος ἐν μέσῳ αὐτῶν εἶπεν· ἔδει μέν, ὦ ἄνδρες, πειθαρχήσαντας μοι μὴ ἀνάγεσθαι ἀπὸ τῆς Κρήτης κερδῆσαι τε τὴν ὕβριν ταύτην καὶ τὴν ζημίαν πολλης δε ασιτιας υπαρχουσης τοτε σταθεις ο παυλος εν μεσω αυτων ειπεν εδει μεν ω ανδρες πειθαρχησαντας μοι μη αναγεσθαι απο της κρητης κερδησαι τε την υβριν ταυτην και την ζημιαν πολλης δε ασιτιας υπαρχουσης τοτε σταθεις ο παυλος εν μεσω αυτων ειπεν εδει μεν ω ανδρες πειθαρχησαντας μοι μη αναγεσθαι απο της κρητης κερδησαι τε την υβριν ταυτην και την ζημιαν
And now I advise you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the ship will be lost. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.

Acts 27:22 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 27:22 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 27:22 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ τὰ νῦν παραινῶ ὑμᾶς εὐθυμεῖν· ἀποβολὴ γὰρ ψυχῆς οὐδεμία ἔσται ἐξ ὑμῶν πλὴν τοῦ πλοίου και τανυν παραινω υμας ευθυμειν αποβολη γαρ ψυχης ουδεμια εσται εξ υμων πλην του πλοιου και τα νυν παραινω υμας ευθυμειν αποβολη γαρ ψυχης ουδεμια εσται εξ υμων πλην του πλοιου
For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve came to me For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

Acts 27:23 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 27:23 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 27:23 (Byzantine Majority Text)

παρέστη γάρ μοι ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τοῦ θεοῦ, οὗ εἰμι [ἐγώ] ᾧ καὶ λατρεύω, ἄγγελος παρεστη γαρ μοι τη νυκτι ταυτη αγγελος του θεου ου ειμι ω και λατρευω παρεστη γαρ μοι ταυτη τη νυκτι αγγελος του θεου ου ειμι ω και λατρευω

Mark 4:38 (NET)

Mark 4:38 (KJV)

But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

Mark 4:38 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:38 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:38 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἐν τῇ πρύμνῃ ἐπὶ τὸ προσκεφάλαιον καθεύδων. καὶ ἐγείρουσιν αὐτὸν καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ· διδάσκαλε, οὐ μέλει σοι ὅτι ἀπολλύμεθα και ην αυτος επι τη πρυμνη επι το προσκεφαλαιον καθευδων και διεγειρουσιν αυτον και λεγουσιν αυτω διδασκαλε ου μελει σοι οτι απολλυμεθα και ην αυτος επι τη πρυμνη επι το προσκεφαλαιον καθευδων και διεγειρουσιν αυτον και λεγουσιν αυτω διδασκαλε ου μελει σοι οτι απολλυμεθα

Mark 4:40 (NET)

Mark 4:40 (KJV)

And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?” And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Mark 4:40 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 4:40 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 4:40 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς· τί δειλοί ἐστε; οὔπω ἔχετε πίστιν και ειπεν αυτοις τι δειλοι εστε ουτως πως ουκ εχετε πιστιν και ειπεν αυτοις τι δειλοι εστε ουτως πως ουκ εχετε πιστιν

Mark 5:28 (NET)

Mark 5:28 (KJV)

for she kept saying, “If only I touch his clothes, I will be healed.” For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

Mark 5:28 (NET Parallel Greek)

Mark 5:28 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Mark 5:28 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἔλεγεν γὰρ ὅτι ἐὰν ἅψωμαι κὰν τῶν ἱματίων αὐτοῦ σωθήσομαι ελεγεν γαρ οτι καν των ιματιων αυτου αψωμαι σωθησομαι ελεγεν γαρ οτι καν των ιματιων αυτου αψωμαι σωθησομαι

Luke 9:1, 2 (NET)

Luke 9:1, 2 (KJV)

After Jesus called the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Luke 9:1 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 9:1 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 9:1 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Συγκαλεσάμενος δὲ τοὺς δώδεκα ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς δύναμιν καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ δαιμόνια καὶ νόσους θεραπεύειν συγκαλεσαμενος δε τους δωδεκα μαθητας αυτου εδωκεν αυτοις δυναμιν και εξουσιαν επι παντα τα δαιμονια και νοσους θεραπευειν συγκαλεσαμενος δε τους δωδεκα εδωκεν αυτοις δυναμιν και εξουσιαν επι παντα τα δαιμονια και νοσους θεραπευειν
and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luke 9:2 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 9:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 9:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἀπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς κηρύσσειν τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ ἰᾶσθαι [τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς] και απεστειλεν αυτους κηρυσσειν την βασιλειαν του θεου και ιασθαι τους ασθενουντας και απεστειλεν αυτους κηρυσσειν την βασιλειαν του θεου και ιασθαι τους ασθενουντας

1 Luke 8:21b (ESV) Table

2 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: Now) at the beginning of this clause, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δὲ.

3 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had διεγερθεὶς, a participle of διεγείρω here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγερθεις (KJV: he arose), a participle of ἐγείρω.

6 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀντιπέρα, a form of the adverb ἀντιπέραν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αντιπεραν (KJV: over against).

7 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτω following there met. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

8 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ος ειχεν (KJV: which had), a 3rd person singular form of ἔχω in the imperfect tense here, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had a present participle ἔχων.

9 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ here followed by χρόνῳ ἱκανῷ in the dative case, which the translators treated like the beginning of a new clause. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκ here followed by χρονων ικανων in the genitive case, which the translators treated like a modifier of the previous clause (KJV: which had devils long time).

10 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καὶ here followed by ιματιον ουκ ενεδιδυσκετο, a form of ἐνδιδύσκω in the imperfect tense, which the translators treated like the beginning of a new clause (KJV: and ware no clothes). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὐκ ἐνεδύσατο ἱμάτιον; ἐνεδύσατο is a form of ἐνδύω in the middle voice and aorist tense.

13 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λεγων (KJV: saying) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

15 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had παρεκάλουν here, a 3rd person plural form of παρακαλέω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular form παρεκαλει (KJV: they besought).

16 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had βοσκομένη here, a singular participle of βόσκω in the nominative case, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural participle βοσκομενων in the genitive case.

18 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had εἰσῆλθον here, a 3rd person plural form of εἰσέρχομαι, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had the singular εισηλθεν.

19 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γεγονὸς here, a neuter participle of γίνομαι in the active voice, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the masculine γεγενημενον (KJV: was done) in the middle or passive voice.

20 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had απελθοντες (KJV: went) following fled and. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

23 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἠρώτησεν here, a singular form of ἐρωτάω, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the plural ηρωτησαν (KJV: besought).

24 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐδεῖτο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εδεετο (KJV: besought). These appear to be alternate spellings of the same part of speech.

25 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο ιησους (KJV: Jesus) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

26 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγενετο (KJV: it came to pass) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

27 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὑποστρέφειν here, an infinitive form of ὑποστρέφω in the present tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υποστρεψαι (KJV: was returned) in the aorist tense.

30 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἀπ᾿ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had υπ (KJV: of).

31 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και οι μετ αυτου (KJV: and they that were with him) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

32 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και λεγεις τις ο αψαμενος μου (KJV: and sayest thou, Who touched me) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

34 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτω (KJV: unto him) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

35 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θαρσει (KJV: be of good comfort) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

36 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had μηκέτι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had simply μη (KJV: not).

37 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λεγων (KJV: saying). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

38 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πίστευσον here, an imperative form of πιστεύω in the aorist tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πιστευε in the present tense.

42 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκβαλων εξω παντας και (KJV: put them all out, and) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

44 Luke 8:22-56 (ESV)

45 Luke 8:25a (ESV)

48 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιησους (KJV: Jesus) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

49 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτοις (KJV: unto them) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

50 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the neuter ἔλεος here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the masculine ελεον.

51 The NET parallel Greek text and Byzantine Majority Text had the conjunction ἀλλὰ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and NA28 had ἀλλ’.

52 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εις μετανοιαν (KJV: to repentance) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

53 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had γίνεται here, a form of γίνομαι in the present tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εγενετο (KJV: it came to pass) in the 2nd aorist tense.

54 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εν τω preceding reclined at table (KJV: sat at meat). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

57 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὅτι ἐσθίει here, a 3rd person singular form of ἐσθίω in the present tense, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτον εσθιοντα (KJV: him eat), a present participle.

58 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τι (KJV: How) at the beginning of this clause. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

59 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και πινει (KJV: and drink) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

60 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὅτι (“that”) here. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

61 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εις μετανοιαν (KJV: to repentance) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

62 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πάντα here, a form of πᾶς, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had απαντα (KJV: all), a form of ἅπας.

64 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had the article ο preceding Levi. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

65 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article τῶν preceding tax collectors. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

67 Luke 5:28a (ESV)

68 Matthew 9:13b (ESV)

70 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had λεββαιος ο επικληθεις (KJV: Lebbaeus, whose surname was) preceding Thaddeus. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

72 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article preceding Iscariot. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

74 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had θεραπευειν τας νοσους και (KJV: to heal sicknesses, and) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

84 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τον του preceding of Aphaeus. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

87 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had καὶ (KJV: also) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

88 Matthew 10:3 (ESV)

89 The Path of Preparation: Four Necessary Steps, #4 Organize: Sequence and Order p. 101; Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 5

90 The Balance: A Generic Framework pp. 74, 75; Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 4, Part 1

91 Philippians 2:13 (ESV)

93 Romans 7:18b (ESV) Table

94 John 17:3b (ESV)

95 Luke 8:22b (ESV)

96 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article του preceding to sow. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

97 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had του ουρανου (KJV: of the air) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

98 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had καὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: And).

99 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the adjective or adverb εὐθὺς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the adverb ευθεως.

101 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the plural adjective ἄλλα here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the singular αλλο.

102 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αὐξανόμενα here, a participle of αὐξάνω in the passive voice, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυξανοντα (KJV: increased) in the active voice.

103 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had αυτοις (KJV: unto them) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

104 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ὃς ἔχει here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο εχων (KJV: He that hath).

105 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ομοιως (KJV: likewise). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

108 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἄλλοι here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτοι (KJV: these).

112 Luke 8:25b (ESV)

113 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had τε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: But).

118 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ουτως (KJV: so) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

119 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had οὔπω ἔχετε here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had πως ουκ εχετε (KJV: how is it that ye have no).

121 Bullet point #4 in answer to my question: what causes storms to form?

123 Luke 8:42b (ESV)

124 Luke 8:46b (ESV)

126 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had μαθητας αυτου (KJV: his twelve disciples) following twelve. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

127 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had [τοὺς ἀσθενεῖς] (NET: the sick), a form of the adjective ἀσθενής following to heal, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τους ασθενουντας (KJV: the sick), a participle of the verb ἀσθενέω.

Christ-Centered Preaching, Chapter 5

These are my notes from a preaching course I’m taking. Unless otherwise indicated all quotations are from the book:

Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, 3rd Edition by Bryan Chapell

Questions for Review and Discussion

  1. What are the crucial questions that preachers must answer in order to convert mere lectures to sermons?

  1. What does the text mean?

    The reasoning behind the first question is the most obvious: preachers need to do enough research to determine what the scope and the particulars of a text mean.

  2. How do I know what the text means?

    The second question begins to orient preachers to their listeners’ concerns. In a sense, this question forces preachers to retrace the steps that led them to their conclusions in order to identify significant landmarks that others will be able to follow. It is not at all uncommon for preachers to feel fairly confident about a text’s meaning without being able to specify what led them to their conclusion. Solid explanations—and the second question—require preachers to identify the particular details or reasoning that establish a text’s meaning.

  3. What concerns caused the text to be written?

    The third question requires preachers to determine the cause of a text. This question is related to the first two (and usually is integral to how they are answered), but it is listed separately because its answer is vital to the ultimate development of a sermon designed to minister to God’s people, and enables us to answer the remaining questions.

The Path of Preparation: Six Critical Questions p. 88

  1. What do we share in common with those to (or about) whom the text was written or with the one by whom the text was written?

    The fourth question takes us back to the principles of a Fallen Condition Focus (FCF)… By identifying what we share with the people of Scripture, we bring the truths of the text into immediate contact with the lives of people today…

    “…I won’t logically defend any theology that teaches my works will save me, but I sometimes feel and even behave that way. I am always tempted to believe that when I am good, God will love me more.” So is everyone else. We all have moments, or even years, when aspects of our thoughts, emotions, or behavior echo the Judaizers’ theology. We all have vestiges of Babel within us: as a consequence of our fallen nature, we are all trying to build our towers to heaven and claim responsibility for the grace that saves us. Our pride wars against the admission that there is no good in us. Our sinful condition forever struggles with our total dependence on grace. Only when we can identify the humanness that unites us with the struggles of those whom Paul had to warn about the Judaizers do we really know why he wrote and what we are to preach.

    Preaching does not simply point us toward what once happened to others; it primarily points toward how those truths…affect us now.

    …In some sense, we all share David’s guilt, Thomas’s doubt, and Peter’s denial (1 Cor. 10:13).

    No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it [Table].

    Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry [Table]. I speak as to sensible people; judge (κρίνατε, a form of κρίνω) for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply (φημι) then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons [Table]. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? (1 Corinthians 10:13-22 ESV)

    Therefore, a solid explanation of a text does not merely display the facts in the text or describe how they support a doctrinal perspective. A full explanation of a text’s meaning begins by identifying how its FCP touches and characterizes our lives.

  2. How should people now respond to the truths of the text?

    The fifth question of explanation may not appear to be part of explanation at all… However, this question must be asked as part of the explanation process… Any text of Scripture has near limitless explanation avenues and possibilities. Only when we determine what the text requires of us as a consequence of an FCF the sermon addresses do we know how to focus, phrase, and organize the explanation of the text.

  3. What is the most effective way I can communicate the meaning of the text?

    These last questions indicate that a sermon is not merely an outlined description of a text… Since a sermon ultimately answers for listeners, “What does this text mean to me?,” the explanation has to be framed in such a way that it maximizes meaning for listeners… We must exegete our listeners as well as the text to construct a sermon that most powerfully and accurately explains what the text means.

The Path of Preparation: Six Critical Questions pp. 89, 90

  1. Why is an exegetical outline by itself usually insufficient as a homiletical outline?

Prior to answering these questions [e.g., 4-6], a preacher has only collected information about a text, and not developed a sermon. Although many preachers may feel that when they have done enough research to determine a text’s meaning—that they are ready to preach—they are mistaken… Answering these remaining questions actually pushes a preacher…converting a textual commentary or an exegetical lecture into a sermon.

The Path of Preparation: Six Critical Questions p. 89

It is beneficial to use the space around an exegetical outline to make notes of textual insights that you discover in your study tools or that come to mind as your sermon research advances… Keeping verse numbers visible in the outline makes this type of notation easier and will help you to quickly find information in the exegetical outline that you will need when later organizing all the sermon material (illustrations, applications, transitions, etc.) into a homiletical outline for the actual construction of the message.11

The Path of Preparation: Four Necessary Steps, #2 Interrogate: Exegete the Passage (What Does It Say?) p. 97

Simply collecting information about grammar, thought flow, and background does not prepare a pastor to preach on a text. Preachers cannot determine how to organize their explanations or how to state their discoveries meaningfully until they consider the impact the information should have on the congregation…

Explanation prepared in the abstract is irrelevant. When each word and every statement of a message are intimately related to the concerns of the people who must apply the biblical truths to their lives, then explanation assumes sermonic form and power.

The Path of Preparation: Four Necessary Steps, #3 Relate p. 99

Although the two may echo one another closely, an exegetical outline is not necessarily a homiletical outline. An exegetical outline establishes what a text says. A homiletical outline establishes how a text’s meaning is best communicated to a congregation…

First, an exegetical outline describes the immediate text; however, an exegetical outline of a few verses does not necessarily contain context and background information. Aspects of a biblical person’s biography outside the immediate text, the usage of a word in parallel texts, the previous argument of an apostle, and many other aspects of a passage may need additional attention in an order supplied by the immediate text for a pastor to explain its verses fully and accurately.

Second, an exegetical outline also does not indicate the pastoral emphasis that the minister knows should be given to the various components of the passage in light of the issues or concerns facing a particular congregation. A preacher must incorporate these features and concerns, which are not supplied by an exegetical outline, into the sermon.

Thus, insights from the exegetical outline, the passage’s background, and the present level of the congregation’s knowledge about these matters must all funnel into a homiletical outline in order for an effective sermon to take shape.

The Path of Preparation: Four Necessary Steps, #4 Organize: Sequence and Order p. 100

A conceit (a unique approach to story and/or character in film writing) is described as follows:

In general, story is content is component. Style is approach is conceit. What happens is content, how it happens is conceit. Imagine watching a sporting event with only one announcer doing play-by-play. If the camera is anywhere near the action, then the announcer is redundant to what can be seen. It’s the color commentator that elevates the significance of the detail being pointed out and brings an overlay to the experience.1

What place does the following conceit hold in the New Covenant?

Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon

The New Covenant (Hebrews 8:10-12 ESV)

“Determining for listeners what a text means for them is as central to the process of explanation as is the researching of the passage’s grammar and history.”2

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more” [Table].

If I analyze my own conceit in these pages (which I consider as notes to remind me where the Lord and I have been, not sermons), it might be that I tell you my “cheat” straight up: walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.3 To illustrate (Matthew 6:2-4 ESV):

Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you [Table].

This was Jesus’ first application to illustrate and explain: Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them.4 It seems like most of the heavy lifting had already been accomplished: they were giving to the needy. Their selfishness and fear for their own well-being had already been overcome. One step further—sound no trumpet, so that your giving may be in secret—should have been no big deal. Right?

Perhaps I’m being naive, too working class, in my analysis. There are people in this world with resources beyond their own needs for food, shelter and clothing, people who are accustomed to spending excess resources for political advantage or social status. It is possible that they give to the needy entirely out of selfishness and/or fear for their own well-being. In fact, Jesus’ stated motivation for such giving—that they may be praised by others—covers an entire universe of scenarios I may never fully comprehend.

Being praised by others is pretty great. I like it. What did Jesus offer instead in this text? Your Fatherwill reward you. In the past He rewarded you openly (εν τω φανερω), which seemed to offer some of the juice of being praised by others. But at least since NA27 and NA28 openly has fallen under suspicion. Still, the coupling of these statements in parallel might lead one to suspect that God’s reward is his praise, if I only read this passage.

Elsewhere Jesus said (Luke 17:7-10 ESV):

“Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him5 when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’?6 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? Does he thank the7 servant because he did what was commanded?8 So you also, when you have done all (πάντα, a form of πᾶς) that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

Did Jesus confirm here that God is a hard man, reaping where [He] did not sow, and gathering where [He] scattered no seed?9 Did He imply that God would take credit ultimately for the righteousness I worked so hard to achieve from the law? Or did He imply, in that way that He spoke to Israel, that the free gift of righteousness10 is not my work? that when I have done all that I was commanded it will have been done by the Holy Spirit in the power of God.

This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:

“‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them[Table]11

So, to be motivated to give to the needy by the grace offered in this passage alone, I must believe first that my heavenly Father is trustworthy and will follow through with Jesus’ promise of a reward, and second that such a reward, whether openly or not, will be as satisfying as being praised by others. Giving to the needy is law, so maybe I can add a bit of fear, what God might do to me if I disobey his law, into this equation. Sill, I wonder if fear of retribution and faith in an unspecified reward is sufficient to overcome the selfishness and fear for my own well-being that lies close at hand when I want to do right.12 And if it were sufficient would it cause me to give to the needy out of anything like love for God and others, or would it simply be a righteousness of my own that comes from the law?13

I’ve had something like this dilemma almost every time I’ve encountered an application in Scripture since I began to believe that the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ14 is real righteousness. And every time I’ve stumbled here Jesus has directed me back to: walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.15 Walking by the Spirit is a skill or knack that is trickier to learn by trial-and-error than sound no trumpet, so that your giving may be in secret. But it is the way Jesus walked: And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness16 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee17

Being both led and empowered by his own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control18 [Table] is more like the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.19 And it’s more like the new covenant as well. So, that is my conceit.

In an expository sermon, the homiletical outline is worded in principles derived from and supported by features of the text in its context. The preacher demonstrates how the text supports these principles and then applies them to the contemporary context of the listeners.

The Path of Preparation: Four Necessary Steps, #4 Organize: Sequence and Order p. 101

How much difference is there between “principles derived from and supported by features of the text” presented for listeners’ obedience and laws? Isn’t this technique designed to result in a “righteousness” of one’s own derived from the preacher’s “principles derived from and supported by features of the text” as understood and elucidated by the preacher? Depending on the preacher these principles may approximate the outcome of the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness as word strings, but obeying word strings to acquire a righteousness of one’s own derived from word strings is not a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness. The whole technique reeks of the old covenant.

Is that the point? Do preachers entice me to wear myself out striving for a righteousness of my own derived from law (i.e., from “principles derived from and supported by features of the text”) in the hope that I will discover a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness more or less on my own with the Bible and the Lord, and then return with a healthy skepticism toward preachers and their preaching?

I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive (τῶν πλανώντων, a participle of πλανάω) you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his20 anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide21 in him.22

  1. Why are preachers not necessarily obligated to present the pattern of a text as the structure of a sermon? Why is it most often advisable to follow the pattern of a text?

The most common (and usually the most helpful) expository approach is to advance through the explanation of a text in the order of its ideas. Exceptions may occur, however, for various reasons. Sometimes the sequence of thought in a text does not allow a preacher to introduce background information efficiently… The pattern of a text in its written form may also not communicate well in the oral medium of the sermon… Other aspects of biblical literature may lead us to consider alternative orders for presentation than the original verses presented…Such biblical patterns of organization are appropriate for their original purposes but need not always be presented in lockstep order to expound the truth of the passage. An expository sermon obligates a preacher to present the truths of a text but not necessarily in the pattern of the passage.

Maintaining a rigid and wooden mirroring of the sequence of a text may actually misrepresent the truth of the text.

The Path of Preparation: Four Necessary Steps, #4 Organize: Sequence and Order p. 101

These cautions should not blind us to the usual advantages of explaining a text’s features in the order they occur. This pattern of a text tends to reflect the pattern of the biblical writer’s thought… Still, the advantages of following the pattern of a text are overturned when doing so would overcomplicate the organization of the sermon, miss key thoughts in the text, or misrepresent the text’s purpose.

The more the pattern of the passage governs the truth that the biblical writer wanted to convey, the greater the obligation of the expositor to make listeners aware of that pattern. Still, a preacher has a greater obligation to make sure that listeners understand and apply the truths of the passage than to cover the passage in sentence or verse order.

The Path of Preparation: Four Necessary Steps, #4 Organize: Sequence and Order p. 102

  1. What advantages does an expositor have in following the state, place and prove steps? Do these advantages require these steps in this order?

By stating a truth (with a main point or subpoint statement) derived from the biblical text, saying where in the text that truth originates (i.e., referencing the “place” or aspect of the text supporting that point), and proving how the text backs the truth (by using one of the “General Processes” described below), preachers present the discoveries of their textual study in a highly comprehensible form.

The Light of Presentation p. 104

The state-place-prove order of these steps can vary… For the expositor, the order of the steps is not as crucial as the need to make each one.

The Light of Presentation p. 105

By stating what a text means, placing the truth where it originates in the text, and proving how the text establishes that truth, you fulfill the fundamental obligations of an expositor: state what you know and show how you know. By meeting these obligations, we illuminate a path to a text’s meaning so that others can see the truth of Scripture, follow it to the source, and confirm its authority over their lives.

The Light of Presentation: Prove: Confirmation (Exegesis and Argument): More Light p. 111

  1. How many proofs should a preacher present in regard to a particular concept in a sermon? Which proofs of a particular concept should a preacher present?

There are actually only four ways that we can explain the meaning of any biblical text. These are known as the “General Processes” of explanation. In order to explain a text, we may simply “repeat” the text, we may “restate” the text (i.e., reword it in more familiar terms), we may “describe” unfamiliar events or terms (i.e., “define” them), or we may “confirm” the truth we have stated by various exegetical or logical means.

How do we choose which of the General Processes to employ in explaining any particular main point or subpoint? We move as far down the list of processes as is needed to be clear and convincing that the biblical text supports our statement.

The Light of Presentation: Prove p. 106

If preachers keep challenging themselves to prove their argument as they make declarative statements of truth principles supported by the text, then natural arguments tend to take shape in fairly good order. Yet some cautions must be considered. First, not all things need to be proven—many are obvious. Second, few things need all the proofs you can muster. Choose what is most powerful and most concise. Third, some things cannot be proven…we should be ready to bow before the omniscience of God when our understanding reaches its finite limits. There is no shame in doing this or in teaching listeners to do the same (see Rom. 11:33).

The Light of Presentation: Prove: Confirmation (Exegesis and Argument) pp. 110, 111

As regards the gospel, they [i.e., those who were hardened in Israel] are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy [Table]. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?”

“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:28-36 ESV)

  1. What cautions should a preacher exercise in presenting exegetical insights in a sermon?

Preaching should never be an excuse to display our erudition at the expense of convincing listeners that they can never really understand what Scripture says because they read only in English. We are obligated to explain exegetical insights in such a way that they make the meaning of a text more obvious, not more remote…

Young preachers often think that heaping exegetical intricacy on their explanation will establish their credibility, when in fact this practice may damage it… Share the fruit, not the sweat, of your exegetical labor.

The Light of Presentation: Prove: Confirmation (Exegesis and Argument) p. 109

When your exegetical conclusions differ in some degree with the translation most of your listeners have in their laps, handle the difference carefully…

Presenting an argument that supports your explanation rarely justifies being argumentative… Sermons are usually prepared for a mixed group of people, including those who are informed and those who are not, those who are able to reason well and those who are not, those who are ready to accept a preacher’s pronouncements and those who are not. Each of these factors must be considered as preachers prepare to support, develop, and when necessary, defend an exposition (1 Pet. 3:15).

The Light of Presentation: Prove: Confirmation (Exegesis and Argument) p. 110

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? [Table] But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit [Table], in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison… (1 Peter 3:13-19 ESV)

In one of the key debates during the formation of the Westminster Confession of Faith, one scholar spoke with great skill and persuasiveness for a position that would have mired the church in political debates for many years. As the man spoke George Gillespie prepared a rebuttal in the same room. As they watched him write furiously on a tablet, all in the assembly knew the pressure on the young man to organize a response while the scholar delivered one telling argument after another. Yet when Gillespie rose, his words were filled with such power and scriptural persuasion that the haste of his preparation was not discernible. Gillespie’s message so impressed those assembled as the wisdom of God that the opposing scholar conceded that a lifetime of study had just been undone by the younger man’s presentation. When the matter was decided, the friends of Gillespie snatched from his desk the tablet…they found only one phrase written over and over again: Da lucern, Domine (Give light, O Lord).

Over and over Gillespie had prayed for more light from God. Instead of the genius of his own thought, this valiant Reformer wanted more of the mind of God.

The Light of Presentation: Prove: Confirmation (Exegesis and Argument): More Light pp. 111, 112

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour [Table]. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes [Table]. (Matthew 10:16-23 ESV)

  1. Why is profound truth in simple language a mark of pastoral genius?

Whatever arguments we settle on, we must resolve to present them as interestingly and simply as possible…Your tools and your mind will provide you with wonderful proofs of the rich truths in God’s Word. You should delight to proclaim truth as expansively and powerfully as God grants you the gifts to do so. All preachers simply need to make sure that what they preach communicates rather than complicates the truths of God. Doing so will require you to apply all the resources of your mind and heart…keeping matters simple is smart. Saying profound things obscurely or saying simple things cleverly requires relatively little thought, but saying profound things simply is the true mark of pastoral genius.

The Light of Presentation: Prove: Confirmation (Exegesis and Argument) p. 111

Exercises

  1. Create a mechanical layout of Philippians 4:4-7.

Philippians 4:4-7 (ESV)

Philippians 4:4-7 (NET Parallel Greek)

(4) in [the] Lord
           Rejoice
                   always;
                   again
                   I will say,
           rejoice.
(5)       Let be known
                   your reasonableness
                                to everyone.
    The Lord
            is at hand;
(6)        do not be anxious [about anything],
                   but
                   in everything
                                by prayer
                                and
                                supplication
                                with thanksgiving
     to God
           let be made known
                   your requests
(7)      And
           the peace
     of God,
                   which surpasses
                                all understanding,
          will guard
                   your hearts
                   and
                   your minds
     in Christ Jesus.
(4) ἐν κυρίῳ
           Χαίρετε
                   πάντοτε
                   πάλιν
                   ἐρῶ
           χαίρετε
(5)       γνωσθήτω
                   τὸ ἐπιεικὲς ὑμῶν
                                πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις
    κύριος
            ἐγγύς
(6)        μηδὲν μεριμνᾶτε                                                           ἀλλ᾿
                   ἐν παντὶ
                                τῇ προσευχῇ
                                καὶ
                                τῇ δεήσει
                                μετὰ εὐχαριστίας
     πρὸς τὸν θεόν
           γνωριζέσθω
                   τὰ αἰτήματα ὑμῶν
(7)      καὶ
          εἰρήνη
     τοῦ θεοῦ
                    ὑπερέχουσα
                                πάντα νοῦν
          φρουρήσει
                   τὰς καρδίας ὑμῶν
                   καὶ
                   τὰ νοήματα ὑμῶν
     ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.23 As an unbeliever left to my own devices I’d probably ignore this, though I might wonder why anyone would do such a thing. As an unbeliever being drawn to righteousness by the Holy Spirit, I would probably respond belligerently: “Screw you, Paul! Who are you to tell me what to do?” But I may have gained an insight into this verse.

The Greek word translated Rejoice was χαίρετε, translated as a 2nd person plural form of χαίρω in the present tense, active voice and imperative mood. Understood as an imperative it means, “you must rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, you must rejoice.” And in my belligerence I may have understood Paul’s intent better than if I had ignored it or simply wondered why anyone would do such a thing.

As a believer under law, I would accept my obligation to Rejoice in the Lord always as a work that I must do. That is, after all, what the text says: “The imperative mood is a command or instruction given to the hearer, charging the hearer to carry out or perform a certain action.” And I would have probably realized that Paul was just the messenger. My obligation is from and to the Lord Himself. But as I worked diligently to have my own righteousness derived from the law24—[you must] Rejoice in the Lord always—I would encounter many things both internal and external that would dissuade me from rejoicing. Eventually, I would probably realize that I didn’t Rejoice in the Lord always sufficient to meet even my own standards or expectations. And here, left to my own devices, I might give up in despair.

If, however, as a believer under law I was being drawn to righteousness by the Holy Spirit, whether I gave up in despair or not, He might draw me back, even help me to recognize that χαίρετε was not only an imperative. It might have been translated in the indicative mood. It might have been Paul’s statement of fact: “you rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say, you rejoice.” Spurred on by God’s Holy Spirit I might begin to wonder who this Paul guy was: What does he get that I’m not getting?

The Spirit might lead me to read some of Paul’s other writing. Who knows? I might even gain the knowledge of sin from the law (Romans 7:10-18 ESV):

The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure [Table]. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin [Table]. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me [Table]. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out [Table].

Maybe the Holy Spirit would lead me back to consider the original verses in more detail (Philippians 4:5b-7 ESV):

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

This actually sounds a lot more hopeful than the panic attack I had trying to have my own righteousness obeying a law: “you must rejoice in the Lord always.” It even offers a pretty good reason for rejoicing in the Lord always. What might happen if the Holy Spirit helped me notice this time that the prepositional phrase—in Christ Jesus—seems more like a state of being than I was taking in the Lord?

When I thought in the Lord was the object of MY REJOICING writ large, I found way too many reasons not to rejoice in the Lord as an object of veneration. What if the Holy Spirit helped me to recognize that Lord (κυρίῳ) was in the dative case here, and energized me to search online for its meaning? “The dative is the case of the indirect object, or may also indicate the means by which something is done.”25 I might then understand in [the] Lord as another example of that same state of being—in Christ Jesus—the means by whom I rejoice.

[I]n the Lord [you] Rejoice always; again I will say, [you] rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Perhaps the Holy Spirit would draw me into a relationship with this Christ Jesus. Perhaps He would indwell me and become my Savior. Perhaps I would begin then to want the righteousness that comes by way of Christ’s faithfulness—a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ’s faithfulness.26 Who knows? In time I might begin to realize that legislating unfunded mandates is the work of men, not a loving Father God who supplies whatever He requires. Joy (χαρὰ) is listed second among the aspects of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). As that guy Paul wrote: For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.27

On Pentecost after Jesus ascended into heaven, Peter preached (Acts 2:16, 17a ESV):

But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh [Table]…

Now is the judgment of this world, Jesus promised, now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.28

  1. Create a conceptual outline of Matthew 14:22-32.

Jesus Walks in the Power of the Spirit – Matthew 14:22-33 (ESV)

I. Jesus seeks solitude
    A. Jesus sends his disciples away (14:22a)
    B. Jesus dismisses the crowd (14:22b-23a)
    C. Jesus prays alone (14:23b)
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds [Table]. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
II. Jesus returns to his disciples
     A. Disciples tossed by wind and waves (14:24)
     B. Jesus walks on the water to them (14:25)
     C. Disciples are terrified by this (14:26)
     D. Jesus speaks comfort to them (14:27)

but the boat by this time was a long way from the land,29 beaten by the waves, for the wind ( ἄνεμος) was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he30 came31 to them, walking on the sea.32 But33 when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,34 they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately35 Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”

III. Peter follows Jesus
     A. Peter receives Jesus’ command (14:28-29a)
     B. Peter walks on the water to Jesus (14:29b)
     C. Afraid he calls to Jesus (14:30)
     D. Jesus holds and questions him (14:31)

And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus [Table]. But when he saw the wind (τὸν ἄνεμον [ἰσχυρὸν]), he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

IV. Jesus in the boat with his disciples
     A. The wind ceases (14:32)
     B. Disciples worship God’s Son (14:33)
And when they got into the boat, the wind ( ἄνεμος) ceased. And those in the boat36 worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

According to a note (23) in the NET, Jesus quoted from Isaiah 6:9, 10 in Matthew 13:14b, 15. A table comparing the Greek of Jesus’ quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

Matthew 13:14b, 15 (NET Parallel Greek)

Isaiah 6:9b, 10 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 6:9b, 10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε, καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε (15) ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν, μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς

ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε [Table] (10) ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου καὶ τοῗς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσιν τοῗς ὀφθαλμοῗς καὶ τοῗς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσιν καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσιν καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσιν καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς [Table]

ἀκοῇ ἀκούσετε καὶ οὐ μὴ συνῆτε καὶ βλέποντες βλέψετε καὶ οὐ μὴ ἴδητε (10) ἐπαχύνθη γὰρ ἡ καρδία τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν αὐτῶν βαρέως ἤκουσαν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν ἐκάμμυσαν μήποτε ἴδωσι τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς καὶ τοῖς ὠσὶν ἀκούσωσι καὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ συνῶσι, καὶ ἐπιστρέψωσι, καὶ ἰάσομαι αὐτούς

Matthew 13:14b, 15 (NET)

Isaiah 6:9b, 10 (NETS)

Isaiah 6:9b, 10 (English Elpenor)

“‘You will listen carefully yet will never understand, you will look closely yet will never comprehend. (15) For the heart of this people has become dull; they are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they would not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

‘You will listen by listening, but you will not understand, and looking you will look, but you will not perceive’. (10) For this people’s heart has grown fat, and with their ears they have heard heavily, and they have shut their eyes so that they might not see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn–and I would heal them.”

Ye shall hear indeed, but ye shall not understand; and ye shall see indeed, but ye shall not perceive. (10) For the heart of this people has become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.

According to a note (25) in the NET, Paul quoted from Isaiah 40:13 in Romans 11:34. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

Romans 11:34 (NET Parallel Greek)

Isaiah 40:13a (Septuagint BLB) Table

Isaiah 40:13a (Septuagint Elpenor)

τίς γὰρ ἔγνω νοῦν κυρίου; τίς σύμβουλος αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο

τίς ἔγνω νοῦν κυρίου καὶ τίς αὐτοῦ σύμβουλος ἐγένετο

τίς ἔγνω νοῦν Κυρίου, καὶ τίς αὐτοῦ σύμβουλος ἐγένετο

Romans 11:34 (NET)

Isaiah 40:13a (NETS)

Isaiah 40:13a (English Elpenor)

For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?

Who has known the mind of the Lord, and who has been his counselor

Who has known the mind of the Lord? and who has been his counsellor

According to a note (28) in the NET, Paul quoted from Job 41:11 in Romans 11:35. A table comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows

Romans 11:35 (NET Parallel Greek)

Job 41:11a (Septuagint BLB)

Job 41:3a (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἢ τίς προέδωκεν αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀνταποδοθήσεται αὐτῷ

ἢ τίς ἀντιστήσεταί μοι καὶ ὑπομενεῖ

ἢ τίς ἀντιστήσεταί μοι καὶ ὑπομενεῖ

Romans 11:35 (NET)

Job 41:3a (NETS)

Job 41:3a (English Elpenor)

Or who has first given to God that God needs to repay him?

Or who will withstand me and survive

Or who will resist me, and abide

(I doubt Paul quoted from either of these versions of the Septuagint and I’m not spending the time necessary to consider an independent translation of the Hebrew.)

According to a note (23) in the NET, Peter quoted from Isaiah 8:12 in 1 Peter 3:14. A table comparing the Greek of Peter’s quotation with that of the Septuagint follows.

1 Peter 3:14b (NET Parallel Greek)

Isaiah 8:12b (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 8:12b (Septuagint Elpenor)

τὸν δὲ φόβον αὐτῶν μὴ φοβηθῆτε μηδὲ ταραχθῆτε

τὸν δὲ φόβον αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ φοβηθῆτε οὐδὲ μὴ ταραχθῆτε

τὸν δὲ φόβον αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ φοβηθῆτε, οὐδ᾿ οὐ μὴ ταραχθῆτε

1 Peter 3:14b (NET)

Isaiah 8:12b (NETS)

Isaiah 8:12b (English Elpenor)

But do not be terrified of them or be shaken.

but do not fear what it fears, neither be troubled

but fear not ye their fear, neither be dismayed.

According to a note (32) in the NET, Peter alluded to Isaiah 53:11, 12 in 1 Peter 3:18. Tables comparing the Greek of Peter’s allusion with that of the Septuagint follow.

1 Peter 3:18b (NET Parallel Greek)

Isaiah 53:11 (Septuagint BLB) Table

Isaiah 53:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

δίκαιος ὑπὲρ ἀδίκων

ἀπὸ τοῦ πόνου τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ δεῗξαι αὐτῷ φῶς καὶ πλάσαι τῇ συνέσει δικαιῶσαι δίκαιον εὖ δουλεύοντα πολλοῗς καὶ τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν αὐτὸς ἀνοίσει

ἀπὸ τοῦ πόνου τῆς ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ, δεῖξαι αὐτῷ φῶς καὶ πλάσαι τῇ συνέσει, δικαιῶσαι δίκαιον εὖ δουλεύοντα πολλοῖς, καὶ τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν αὐτὸς ἀνοίσει

1 Peter 3:18b (NET)

Isaiah 53:11 (NETS)

Isaiah 53:11 (English Elpenor)

the just for the unjust

from the pain of his soul, to show him light and fill him with understanding, to justify a righteous one who is well subject to many, and he himself shall bear their sins.

the travail of his soul, to shew him light, and to form [him] with understanding; to justify the just one who serves many well; and he shall bear their sins.

1 Peter 3:18b (NET Parallel Greek)

Isaiah 53:12 (Septuagint BLB) Table

Isaiah 53:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

δίκαιος ὑπὲρ ἀδίκων

διὰ τοῦτο αὐτὸς κληρονομήσει πολλοὺς καὶ τῶν ἰσχυρῶν μεριεῗ σκῦλα ἀνθ᾽ ὧν παρεδόθη εἰς θάνατον ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐν τοῗς ἀνόμοις ἐλογίσθη καὶ αὐτὸς ἁμαρτίας πολλῶν ἀνήνεγκεν καὶ διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν παρεδόθη

διὰ τοῦτο αὐτὸς κληρονομήσει πολλοὺς καὶ τῶν ἰσχυρῶν μεριεῖ σκῦλα, ἀνθ᾿ ὧν παρεδόθη εἰς θάνατον ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀνόμοις ἐλογίσθη· καὶ αὐτὸς ἁμαρτίας πολλῶν ἀνήνεγκε καὶ διὰ τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν παρεδόθη

1 Peter 3:18b (NET)

Isaiah 53:12 (NETS)

Isaiah 53:12 (English Elpenor)

the just for the unjust

Therefore he shall inherit many, and he shall divide the spoils of the strong, because his soul was given over to death, and he was reckoned among the lawless, and he bore the sins of many, and because of their sins he was given over.

Therefore he shall inherit many, and he shall divide the spoils of the mighty; because his soul was delivered to death: and he was numbered among the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and was delivered because of their iniquities.

Tables comparing Job 41:11 and Isaiah 8:12 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Job 41:11 (41:3) and Isaiah 8:12 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Luke 4:1; 17:7; 17:9; 1 John 2:27; Matthew 14:24-27 and 14:33 in the KJV and NET follow.

Job 41:11 (Tanakh)

Job 41:11 (KJV)

Job 41:11 (NET)

Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine. Who has confronted me that I should repay? Everything under heaven belongs to me!

Job 41:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Job 41:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἢ τίς ἀντιστήσεταί μοι καὶ ὑπομενεῖ εἰ πᾶσα ἡ ὑπ᾽ οὐρανὸν ἐμή ἐστιν ἢ τίς ἀντιστήσεταί μοι καὶ ὑπομενεῖ, εἰ πᾶσα ἡ ὑπ᾿ οὐρανὸν ἐμή ἐστιν

Job 41:3 (NETS)

Job 41:3 (English Elpenor)

Or who will withstand me and survive, if all that is under heaven is mine? Or who will resist me, and abide, since the whole [world] under heaven is mine?

Isaiah 8:12 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 8:12 (KJV)

Isaiah 8:12 (NET)

Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. “Do not say, ‘Conspiracy,’ every time these people say the word. Don’t be afraid of what scares them; don’t be terrified.

Isaiah 8:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 8:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

μήποτε εἴπητε σκληρόν πᾶν γάρ ὃ ἐὰν εἴπῃ ὁ λαὸς οὗτος σκληρόν ἐστιν τὸν δὲ φόβον αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ φοβηθῆτε οὐδὲ μὴ ταραχθῆτε μήποτε εἴπητε σκληρόν· πᾶν γάρ, ὃ ἐὰν εἴπῃ ὁ λαὸς οὗτος, σκληρόν ἐστι· τὸν δὲ φόβον αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ φοβηθῆτε, οὐδ᾿ οὐ μὴ ταραχθῆτε

Isaiah 8:12 (NETS)

Isaiah 8:12 (English Elpenor)

Never say “Hard,” for whatever this people says is hard, but do not fear what it fears, neither be troubled. Let them not say, [It is] hard, for whatsoever this people says, is hard: but fear not ye their fear, neither be dismayed.

Luke 4:1 (NET)

Luke 4:1 (KJV)

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

Luke 4:1 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 4:1 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 4:1 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἰησοῦς δὲ πλήρης πνεύματος ἁγίου ὑπέστρεψεν ἀπὸ τοῦ Ἰορδάνου καὶ ἤγετο ἐν τῷ πνεύματι ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ ιησους δε πνευματος αγιου πληρης υπεστρεψεν απο του ιορδανου και ηγετο εν τω πνευματι εις την ερημον ιησους δε πνευματος αγιου πληρης υπεστρεψεν απο του ιορδανου και ηγετο εν τω πνευματι εις την ερημον

Luke 17:7 (NET)

Luke 17:7 (KJV)

“Would any one of you say to your slave who comes in from the field after plowing or shepherding sheep, ‘Come at once and sit down for a meal’? But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

Luke 17:7 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 17:7 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 17:7 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Τίς δὲ ἐξ ὑμῶν δοῦλον ἔχων ἀροτριῶντα ἢ ποιμαίνοντα, ὃς εἰσελθόντι ἐκ τοῦ ἀγροῦ ἐρεῖ αὐτῷ· εὐθέως παρελθὼν ἀνάπεσε τις δε εξ υμων δουλον εχων αροτριωντα η ποιμαινοντα ος εισελθοντι εκ του αγρου ερει ευθεως παρελθων αναπεσαι τις δε εξ υμων δουλον εχων αροτριωντα η ποιμαινοντα ος εισελθοντι εκ του αγρου ερει ευθεως παρελθων αναπεσε

Luke 17:9 (NET)

Luke 17:9 (KJV)

He won’t thank the slave because he did what he was told, will he? Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

Luke 17:9 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 17:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 17:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)

μὴ ἔχει χάριν τῷ δούλῳ ὅτι ἐποίησεν τὰ διαταχθέντα μη χαριν εχει τω δουλω εκεινω οτι εποιησεν τα διαταχθεντα αυτω ου δοκω μη χαριν εχει τω δουλω εκεινω οτι εποιησεν τα διαταχθεντα ου δοκω

1 John 2:27 (NET)

1 John 2:27 (KJV)

Now as for you, the anointing that you received from him resides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, it is true and is not a lie. Just as it has taught you, you reside in him. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

1 John 2:27 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 John 2:27 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 John 2:27 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ὑμεῖς τὸ χρῖσμα ὃ ἐλάβετε ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ, μένει ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ οὐ χρείαν ἔχετε ἵνα τις διδάσκῃ ὑμᾶς, ἀλλ᾿ ὡς τὸ αὐτοῦ χρῖσμα διδάσκει ὑμᾶς περὶ πάντων καὶ ἀληθές ἐστιν καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ψεῦδος, καὶ καθὼς ἐδίδαξεν ὑμᾶς, μένετε ἐν αὐτῷ και υμεις το χρισμα ο ελαβετε απ αυτου εν υμιν μενει και ου χρειαν εχετε ινα τις διδασκη υμας αλλ ως το αυτο χρισμα διδασκει υμας περι παντων και αληθες εστιν και ουκ εστιν ψευδος και καθως εδιδαξεν υμας μενειτε εν αυτω και υμεις το χρισμα ο ελαβετε απ αυτου εν υμιν μενει και ου χρειαν εχετε ινα τις διδασκη υμας αλλ ως το αυτο χρισμα διδασκει υμας περι παντων και αληθες εστιν και ουκ εστιν ψευδος και καθως εδιδαξεν υμας μενειτε εν αυτω

Matthew 14:24-27 (NET)

Matthew 14:24-27 (KJV)

Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

Matthew 14:24 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 14:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 14:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)

τὸ δὲ πλοῖον ἤδη σταδίους πολλοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ἀπεῖχεν βασανιζόμενον ὑπὸ τῶν κυμάτων, ἦν γὰρ ἐναντίος ὁ ἄνεμος το δε πλοιον ηδη μεσον της θαλασσης ην βασανιζομενον υπο των κυματων ην γαρ εναντιος ο ανεμος το δε πλοιον ηδη μεσον της θαλασσης ην βασανιζομενον υπο των κυματων ην γαρ εναντιος ο ανεμος
As the night was ending, Jesus came to them walking on the sea. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Matthew 14:25 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 14:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 14:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)

τετάρτῃ δὲ φυλακῇ τῆς νυκτὸς ἦλθεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς περιπατῶν ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν τεταρτη δε φυλακη της νυκτος απηλθεν προς αυτους ο ιησους περιπατων επι της θαλασσης τεταρτη δε φυλακη της νυκτος απηλθεν προς αυτους ο ιησους περιπατων επι της θαλασσης
When the disciples saw him walking on the water they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out with fear. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

Matthew 14:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 14:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 14:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)

οἱ δὲ μαθηταὶ ἰδόντες αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης περιπατοῦντα ἐταράχθησαν λέγοντες ὅτι φάντασμα ἐστιν, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ φόβου ἔκραξαν και ιδοντες αυτον οι μαθηται επι την θαλασσαν περιπατουντα εταραχθησαν λεγοντες οτι φαντασμα εστιν και απο του φοβου εκραξαν και ιδοντες αυτον οι μαθηται επι την θαλασσαν περιπατουντα εταραχθησαν λεγοντες οτι φαντασμα εστιν και απο του φοβου εκραξαν
But immediately Jesus spoke to them: “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Matthew 14:27 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 14:27 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 14:27 (Byzantine Majority Text)

εὐθὺς δὲ ἐλάλησεν [ὁ Ἰησοῦς] αὐτοῖς λέγων· θαρσεῖτε, ἐγώ εἰμι· μὴ φοβεῖσθε ευθεως δε ελαλησεν αυτοις ο ιησους λεγων θαρσειτε εγω ειμι μη φοβεισθε ευθεως δε ελαλησεν αυτοις ο ιησους λεγων θαρσειτε εγω ειμι μη φοβεισθε

Matthew 14:33 (NET)

Matthew 14:33 (KJV)

Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Matthew 14:33 (NET Parallel Greek)

Matthew 14:33 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Matthew 14:33 (Byzantine Majority Text)

οἱ δὲ ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ προσεκύνησαν αὐτῷ λέγοντες· ἀληθῶς θεοῦ υἱὸς εἶ οι δε εν τω πλοιω ελθοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτω λεγοντες αληθως θεου υιος ει οι δε εν τω πλοιω ελθοντες προσεκυνησαν αυτω λεγοντες αληθως θεου υιος ει

1 A description of a story conceit from “Project Conceits: Entertainment Over Content,” on Writer’s Bootcamp online.

2 The Path of Preparation: Six Critical Questions, Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, 3rd Edition by Bryan Chapell p. 90

3 Galatians 5:16b (ESV)

4 Matthew 6:1a (ESV) Table

6 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἀνάπεσε here, a form of the verb ἀναπίπτω in the active voice, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had αναπεσαι (KJV: and sit down to meat) in the middle voice.

7 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εκεινω (KJV: that) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

8 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had αυτω ου δοκω (KJV: him? I trow not) here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had ου δοκω. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

9 Matthew 25:24b (ESV)

10 Romans 5:17b (ESV)

11 Matthew 13:13-15 (ESV)

12 Romans 7:21b (ESV)

13 Philippians 3:9a (ESV)

14 Romans 3:22a (ESV) Table

15 Galatians 5:16b (ESV)

16 Luke 4:1 (ESV) The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ here in the dative case, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εις την ερημον (KJV: into the wilderness) in the accusative case.

17 Luke 4:14a (ESV)

18 Galatians 5:22b, 23a (ESV)

19 Philippians 3:9b (NET)

20 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had αὐτοῦ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had αυτο (KJV: same).

21 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had μένετε (NET: you reside) here, a form of μένω understood in the 2nd person, present tense and indicative mood (a statement of fact) or as an imperative (ESV: abide); the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μενειτε (KJV: ye shall abide), a promise in the future tense.

22 1 John 2:26, 27 (ESV)

23 Philippians 4:4 (ESV)

24 Philippians 3:9a (NET)

26 Philippians 3:9b (NET)

27 Romans 11:36 (ESV)

28 John 12:31, 32 (ESV)

30 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ο ιησους (KJV: Jesus) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

33 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had δὲ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had και (KJV: And).

35 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had εὐθὺς here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ευθεως (KJV: straightway).

36 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ελθοντες (KJV: came) following boat. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 10

My mother told the following story about her firstborn son:

His father worked the evening shift. Perhaps it was the only shift the young man could get. Perhaps he did it deliberately to earn more per hour. She was alone with their infant son in the afternoon in an upstairs city apartment in summer heat. She put her firstborn in a stroller and pushed him up the street to a corner dairy for a chocolate milkshake.

As they sat in the shade outside the dairy, she offered her son his first taste of chocolate milkshake. He grabbed it from her and wouldn’t let go. There wasn’t money for another. She wasn’t at all certain her husband would agree that there had been money for the first one. So, the twenty-three-year-old mother did without while her son drank too much, too soon for one so small.

I’ve heard that story many times. The time I recall most now, I was telling it myself as my sister and I reminisced after Mom’s death. Like Scrooge pleading to “sponge away the writing on this stone,”1 I tried vainly once again to repent of a deed done before I have any memory of doing it. My sister laughed and said, “She told that story because she thought it was funny. She loves you.”

I’ve reacted to that story many different ways at different times throughout my life. I don’t think it’s funny—not now. Though I don’t recall the event, I am all too familiar with that child. He is the sin that lives in me.2 He is the evilpresent with me when I want to do good.3 He is the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.4 He is unrestrained will: “I want.”

Though I say “unrestrained,” he was constrained somewhat by his stroller and the shortened reach of his chubby little arms. Do you still think he is funny? If I shout it in German, “Ich will!” perhaps you can hear the very worst of Adolf Hitler incipient in that child’s lust, a child who wouldn’t even share a chocolate milkshake with his own mother. Grant him power and he will covet and steal; he will rape and murder; he will try to conquer the world, shrieking a damnable lie: I AM AND THERE IS NO OTHER! No one I know has caused more harm to me or the people I love. And there is no one I would rather see condemned to the lake of fire for all eternity.

In another essay I began to consider the substance or body which cast the shadow of the scape-goat (English Elpenor) or the [goat] to be sent off (NETS) in Leviticus 16:8 (KJV, Septuagint) [Table]. And in another essay I wrote:

Truthfully, my religious mind wants I am unspiritual, sold into slavery to sin (Romans 7:14b NET) to apply to the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.3 My old man may well be the proximate cause of my unspirituality and slavery to sin, but Paul described an I, as I am seen here and now, that is comprised of both an old man and a new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth:4 For I want to do the good, he wrote, but I cannot do it.5

My sister was right: my mother loved me even before I was “comprised of both an old man and a new man who has been created in God’s image.” She didn’t grab me by the ankles and bash my brains out on the hot pavement that day. The words the only true God spoke through Isaiah the prophet to Cyrus, another old man more powerful than mine, follow:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Isaiah 45:4-8 (Tanakh/KJV)

Isaiah 45:4-8 (NET)

Isaiah 45:4-8 (NETS)

Isaiah 45:4-8 (English Elpenor)

For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect (בְּחִירִ֑י), I have even called thee [e.g., Cyrus] by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one (bāḥîr, בחירי), I call you by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not submit to me. For the sake of my servant Iakob and Israel my chosen (τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου), I will call you by name and receive you, but you did not know me, For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel mine elect (τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου), I will call thee by thy name, and accept thee: but thou hast not known me.
I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me. because I am the Lord God, and there is no other god besides me, and you did not know me, For I am the Lord God, and there is no other God beside me; I strengthened thee, and thou hast not known me.
That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I do this so people will recognize from east to west that there is no God but me; I am the Lord, I have no peer. so that they who are from the rising of the sun and from its going down may know that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord God, and there is no other. That they that [come] from the east and they that [come] from the west may know that there is no God but me. I am the Lord God, and there is none beside.
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things. I am the one who has prepared light and made darkness, who makes peace and creates evils; I am the Lord who does all these things. I am he that prepared light, and formed darkness; who make peace, and create evil; I am the Lord God, that does all these things.
Drop down, ye heavens, from above (מִמַּ֔עַל), and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. O sky, rain down from above (maʿal, ממעל)! Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance! Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow and deliverance may sprout up along with it. I, the Lord, create it.’” Let heaven rejoice from above (ἄνωθεν), and let the clouds shower down righteousness; let the earth bring forth mercy, and let it bring forth righteousness as well; I am the Lord who created you. Let the heaven rejoice from above (ἄνωθεν), and let the clouds rain righteousness: let the earth bring forth, and blossom [with] mercy, and bring forth righteousness likewise: I am the Lord that created thee.

Though I was born evil incarnate,5 not yet born from above (γεννηθῆναι ἄνωθεν),6 that evil dwelt by the grace of God in a cute and cuddly package. Most women by the grace of God find that cute and cuddly infant package adorable and appealing. I was born by the grace of God through an intensely intimate process that made my birth and my existence uniquely special to my mother. And so, I lived, not by any virtue of my own, but by the grace of a loving God who gave me a mother who loved me and hoped for me and named me Daniel, that I would grow to stand alone, if necessary, with God.

I’m torn here because I want to get back to studying the Bible but I know my mother would argue with my assessment of myself. It seems obligatory to address how I fooled my mother a large portion, if not most, of the time. I think it boils down to the same thing that surprises me now about the direct honesty of that evil infant. I can only rationalize it as naive ignorance. My earliest memory of my own motivation was that I wanted my mother, my father, anyone, everyone really, to think well of me, to speak well of me. I would attempt to do almost anything to hear their praise.

Trying to please all the people all of the time to win their praise was exhausting and led directly to what some call defiance. My little brother began life with that strategy. It seemed stupid and annoying to me, a waste of time when one is weak and unarmed. If you can’t please all the people all of the time and you can’t kill all the people all of the time, one must compromise: compliance rather than defiance is that compromise.

I tried to the best of my ability to comply as much as I was able with the demands of those I couldn’t kill or intimidate. Compliance can seem like obedience, even righteousness, to those who look on external appearance only. Compliance, to optimize my experience of winning the praise of others, fooled me, too. I wasn’t subtle enough to imagine any righteousness beyond compliance.

Jesus saying, Woe to you7 when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things8 to the false prophets,9 was just word salad to me. But in the right circumstances at the right time and place I could nod and “yea, verily” with the best of them, without ever hearing Jesus’ aspersion on the meaning of my life. Eventually, I was so accustomed to my strategy of maximizing praise and minimizing being screamed at by the minimal level of compliance required, even when I tried to learn from the Bible I only heard what I expected to hear.

John wrote (1 John 5:16 NET):

If anyone sees his fellow Christian (τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ) committing a sin not resulting in death, he should ask, and God will grant life to the person who commits a sin not resulting in death. There is a sin resulting in death. I do not say that he should ask about that.

The fellow Christian John described here was also an I, as I am seen here and now, an I comprised of both an old man and a new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.10 This I is not the same as everyone fathered by God (1 John 5:18 NET [Table]):

We know that everyone fathered by God does not sin, but God protects the one he has fathered, and the evil one ( πονηρὸς) cannot touch him.

This I is the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.11 The evil one cannot touch (οὐχ ἅπτεται) him. In other words, the old man and the new man are distinct, though both dwell together within John’s fellow Christian. The Greek word ἅπτεται (NET: touch) is a passive form of ἅπτω in the middle voice: “to fasten to, touch, grab, attach, cling; to reach, get as far as.” To my mind cannot implies οὐ δύναται in Greek: an inability, a lack of power. But this is οὐχ ἅπτεται, “does not touch.” The old man, the devil, evil does not touch the new man, period, end of statement.

Making God the subject of the clause—but God protects the one he has fathered—while not wrong exactly, is not what the Greek actually says. The subject of this clause is γεννηθεὶς (NET: the one he has fathered): “the one he has fathered protects him.” The NET translators didn’t distinguish12 between the everyone fathered by God (πᾶς γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ) who does not sin (οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει) from the fellow Christian13 (τὸν ἀδελφὸν; literally, “the brother”) who does.

I assume that γεννηθεὶς (NET: the one he has fathered) refers to Jesus and his work on the cross in union with the new man who has been created in God’s image,14 while αὐτόν15 (him) refers back to the singular πᾶς (NET: everyone) of everyone fathered by God.16

John made a similar distinction between his Dear friends (ἀγαπητοί, a form of ἀγαπητός) and the new man earlier in this same letter:

1 John 3:2 (NET)

1 John 3:6 (NET)

Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We17 know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him because we will see him just as he is. Everyone who resides in him does not sin; everyone who sins has neither seen him nor known him.

1 John 3:2 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 John 3:6 (NET Parallel Greek)

ἀγαπητοί, νῦν τέκνα θεοῦ ἐσμεν, καὶ οὔπω ἐφανερώθη τί ἐσόμεθα. οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐὰν φανερωθῇ, ὅμοιοι αὐτῷ ἐσόμεθα, ὅτι ὀψόμεθα αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστιν πᾶς ὁ ἐν αὐτῷ μένων οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει· πᾶς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων οὐχ ἑώρακεν αὐτὸν οὐδὲ ἔγνωκεν αὐτόν

The NET translators chose whenever it is revealed for ἐὰν φανερωθῇ, where the KJV translators chose when he shall appear. Either way, we will be (ἐσόμεθα, a form of εἰμί) like him (i.e., like God, NET or like Jesus, KJV) at some future time because we will see (ὀψόμεθα, a form of ὁράω) him just as he is.18 This likeness to God or Jesus should, at a minimum, entail not sinning. And John confirmed that everyone who sins has neither seen (ἑώρακεν, another from of ὁράω) him nor known (ἔγνωκεν, a form of γινώσκω) him.19

Paul echoed and clarified this concept for John’s Dear friends (1 Corinthians 13:12 NET):

For now we see (βλέπομεν, a form of βλέπω) in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know (γινώσκω) in part, but then I will know fully (ἐπιγνώσομαι, a form of ἐπιγινώσκω), just as I have been fully known (ἐπεγνώσθην, another form of ἐπιγινώσκω).

This leads to the conclusion that John’s more absolute—has neither seen him nor known him—denoted everyone who sins (πᾶς ἁμαρτάνων) as the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires.20 Conversely, Everyone who resides in him does not sin, refers to the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth.21

So, returning to the evil one ( πονηρὸς) cannot touch (οὐχ ἅπτεται) him (αὐτοῦ):22 the NET translators apparently understood αὐτοῦ as a personal pronoun in the genitive case. I am more inclined to understand αὐτοῦ as an adverb: “the evil one does not touch here,” or “there.” In other words, John described the new man as a holy place where God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit meets with the new man who has been created in God’s image—in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth as One.

I have lived as the old man, bereft of the new man. I am living as the new man, frustrated at times by that old man. I hope to live as the new man, separated entirely from the old man. When I began to consider the final judgment as a potential deadline for Jesus to have drawn all to Himself, I thought it was mostly for my convenience.

I have no authority or standing to tell Jesus that He can draw no one to Himself afterward, but final judgment is like an event horizon I have difficulty seeing beyond. While I am aware of no Christian theology which addresses Jesus’ drawing of all to Himself, or the impact of that drawing on the judgment of this world and the ruler of this world being driven out, I can’t now go back and pretend that I don’t hear Him saying (John 12:31, 32 NET):

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when (ἐὰν) I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all23…to myself.

Considering the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires,24 the sin that lives in me,25 as that which cast the shadow of the scape-goat (English Elpenor) or the [goat] to be sent off (NETS) in Leviticus 16:8 (KJV, Septuagint) [Table] adds an interesting line of evidence to that convenience of my choice. Rashi’s commentary to Leviticus 16:8 reads:

And Aaron shall place lots upon the two he-goats: He would place one [he-goat] on his right and one on his left. Then, he would insert both his hands into an urn [which contained two lots, one bearing the inscription “to the Lord” and the other “to Azazel.” These lots were mixed up, and Aaron, with both hands inside the urn] took one lot in his right hand and the other in his left hand, and he would place them upon them [the he-goats]: [The one] upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to the Lord,” would be for God, while the one upon which [he placed the lot] with the inscription “to Azazel,” would be sent off to Azazel. — [Yoma 39a]

Azazel: This is a strong and hard mountain, [with] a high cliff, as the Scripture says [in describing Azazel] (verse 22 below),“a precipitous land (אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה),” meaning a cut-off land [i.e., a sheer drop]. — [Torath Kohanim 16:28; Yoma 67b]

Assuming that Rashi was reaching back into an actual institutional memory of this ceremony, Jesus seems to have alluded to it in his description of final judgment (Matthew 25:31-33 NET):

When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people (αὐτοὺς) one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from (ἀπὸ) the goats [Table]. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

I’ll pick this up in another essay.

Tables comparing Isaiah 45:4; 45:5; 45:6; 45:7 and 45:8 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and tables comparing the Greek of Isaiah 45:4; 45:5; 45:6; 45:7 and 45:8 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and tables comparing Luke 6:26 and 1 John 3:2 in the NET and KJV follow.

Isaiah 45:4 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 45:4 (KJV)

Isaiah 45:4 (NET)

For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me. For the sake of my servant Jacob, Israel, my chosen one, I call you by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not submit to me.

Isaiah 45:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 45:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἕνεκεν Ιακωβ τοῦ παιδός μου καὶ Ισραηλ τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου ἐγὼ καλέσω σε τῷ ὀνόματί σου καὶ προσδέξομαί σε σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἔγνως με ἕνεκεν τοῦ παιδός μου ᾿Ιακὼβ καὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ τοῦ ἐκλεκτοῦ μου, ἐγὼ καλέσω σε τῷ ὀνόματί σου καὶ προσδέξομαί σε, σὺ δὲ οὐκ ἔγνως με

Isaiah 45:4 (NETS)

Isaiah 45:4 (English Elpenor)

For the sake of my servant Iakob and Israel my chosen, I will call you by name and receive you, but you did not know me, For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel mine elect, I will call thee by thy name, and accept thee: but thou hast not known me.

Isaiah 45:5 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 45:5 (KJV)

Isaiah 45:5 (NET)

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but me. I arm you for battle, even though you do not recognize me.

Isaiah 45:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 45:5 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὅτι ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι πλὴν ἐμοῦ θεός καὶ οὐκ ᾔδεις με ὅτι ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεός, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι πλὴν ἐμοῦ Θεός, ἐνίσχυσά σε καὶ οὐκ ᾔδεις με

Isaiah 45:5 (NETS)

Isaiah 45:5 (English Elpenor)

because I am the Lord God, and there is no other god besides me, and you did not know me, For I am the Lord God, and there is no other God beside me; I strengthened thee, and thou hast not known me.

Isaiah 45:6 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 45:6 (KJV)

Isaiah 45:6 (NET)

That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I do this so people will recognize from east to west that there is no God but me; I am the Lord, I have no peer.

Isaiah 45:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 45:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἵνα γνῶσιν οἱ ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν ἡλίου καὶ οἱ ἀπὸ δυσμῶν ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν πλὴν ἐμοῦ ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεός καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι ἵνα γνῶσι οἱ ἀπ᾿ ἀνατολῶν ἡλίου καὶ οἱ ἀπὸ δυσμῶν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι Θεὸς πλὴν ἐμοῦ· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεός, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι

Isaiah 45:6 (NETS)

Isaiah 45:6 (English Elpenor)

so that they who are from the rising of the sun and from its going down may know that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord God, and there is no other. That they that [come] from the east and they that [come] from the west may know that there is no God but me. I am the Lord God, and there is none beside.

Isaiah 45:7 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 45:7 (KJV)

Isaiah 45:7 (NET)

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.

Isaiah 45:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 45:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγὼ ὁ κατασκευάσας φῶς καὶ ποιήσας σκότος ὁ ποιῶν εἰρήνην καὶ κτίζων κακά ἐγὼ κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν ταῦτα πάντα ἐγὼ ὁ κατασκευάσας φῶς καὶ ποιήσας σκότος, ὁ ποιῶν εἰρήνην καὶ κτίζων κακά· ἐγὼ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ὁ ποιῶν πάντα ταῦτα

Isaiah 45:7 (NETS)

Isaiah 45:7 (English Elpenor)

I am the one who has prepared light and made darkness, who makes peace and creates evils; I am the Lord who does all these things. I am he that prepared light, and formed darkness; who make peace, and create evil; I am the Lord God, that does all these things.

Isaiah 45:8 (Tanakh)

Isaiah 45:8 (KJV)

Isaiah 45:8 (NET)

Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it. O sky, rain down from above! Let the clouds send down showers of deliverance! Let the earth absorb it so salvation may grow and deliverance may sprout up along with it. I, the Lord, create it.’”

Isaiah 45:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Isaiah 45:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εὐφρανθήτω ὁ οὐρανὸς ἄνωθεν καὶ αἱ νεφέλαι ῥανάτωσαν δικαιοσύνην ἀνατειλάτω ἡ γῆ ἔλεος καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἀνατειλάτω ἅμα ἐγώ εἰμι κύριος ὁ κτίσας σε εὐφρανθήτω ὁ οὐρανὸς ἄνωθεν, καὶ αἱ νεφέλαι ῥανάτωσαν δικαιοσύνην· ἀνατειλάτω ἡ γῆ καὶ βλαστησάτω ἔλεος, καὶ δικαιοσύνην ἀνατειλάτω ἅμα· ἐγώ εἰμι Κύριος ὁ κτίσας σε

Isaiah 45:8 (NETS)

Isaiah 45:8 (English Elpenor)

Let heaven rejoice from above, and let the clouds shower down righteousness; let the earth bring forth mercy, and let it bring forth righteousness as well; I am the Lord who created you. Let the heaven rejoice from above, and let the clouds rain righteousness: let the earth bring forth, and blossom [with] mercy, and bring forth righteousness likewise: I am the Lord that created thee.

Luke 6:26 (NET)

Luke 6:26 (KJV)

Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Luke 6:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Luke 6:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Luke 6:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)

οὐαὶ ὅταν ὑμᾶς |καλῶς| εἴπωσιν πάντες οἱ ἄνθρωποι· κατὰ τὰ αὐτὰ γὰρ ἐποίουν τοῖς ψευδοπροφήταις οἱ πατέρες αὐτῶν ουαι υμιν οταν καλως υμας ειπωσιν παντες οι ανθρωποι κατα ταυτα γαρ εποιουν τοις ψευδοπροφηταις οι πατερες αυτων ουαι οταν καλως υμας ειπωσιν οι ανθρωποι κατα ταυτα γαρ εποιουν τοις ψευδοπροφηταις οι πατερες αυτων

1 John 3:2 (NET)

1 John 3:2 (KJV)

Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him because we will see him just as he is. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

1 John 3:2 (NET Parallel Greek)

1 John 3:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

1 John 3:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἀγαπητοί, νῦν τέκνα θεοῦ ἐσμεν, καὶ οὔπω ἐφανερώθη τί ἐσόμεθα. οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐὰν φανερωθῇ, ὅμοιοι αὐτῷ ἐσόμεθα, ὅτι ὀψόμεθα αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστιν αγαπητοι νυν τεκνα θεου εσμεν και ουπω εφανερωθη τι εσομεθα οιδαμεν δε οτι εαν φανερωθη ομοιοι αυτω εσομεθα οτι οψομεθα αυτον καθως εστιν αγαπητοι νυν τεκνα θεου εσμεν και ουπω εφανερωθη τι εσομεθα οιδαμεν δε οτι εαν φανερωθη ομοιοι αυτω εσομεθα οτι οψομεθα αυτον καθως εστιν

2 Romans 7:17b (NET) Table; Romans 7:20b (NET) Table

3 Romans 7:21 (NET)

4 Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

6 John 3:7 (NET)

7 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had υμιν (KJV: unto you) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not (NET note 87).

9 Luke 6:26 (NET)

10 Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

11 Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

12 NET note 49

13 1 John 5:16a (NET)

14 Ephesians 4:24a (NET)

15 The NA28, Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had τηρει εαυτον (KJV: keepeth himself) here. If one does not distinguish (NET note 49) between the new man and the sinning Christian, this becomes unintelligible: “the sinning Christian keepeth himself from sinning.”

16 1 John 5:18a (NET) Table

17 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had δε (KJV: but) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

18 1 John 3:2b (NET)

19 1 John 3:6b (NET)

20 Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

21 Ephesians 4:24b (NET)

22 1 John 5:18b (NET)

23 I dropped the word people here, because that limitation is not in the Greek text: πάντας ἑλκύσω πρὸς ἐμαυτόν.

24 Ephesians 4:22b (NET)

25 Romans 7:20b (NET) Table

Wonders and False Wonders, Part 3

This is a continuation of my consideration of the many wonders (τέρατα, a form of τέρας) and miraculous signs (σημεῖα, a form of σημεῖον) which came about by the apostles.1 I’ll continue to use the knowledge gleaned from the translation of Exodus 4:21 and 4:8, 9 in the Septuagint to analyze the miraculous sign as “the thing itself,” and distinguish it from “the wonder, the voice of the sign, the effect it has on those who witness the sign.”2

Luke described an early practice of the Jerusalem church (Acts 4:32-37 NET):

The group of those who believed were of one heart3 and mind (ψυχὴ),4 and no one said that any of his5 possessions was his own, but everything was held in common. With great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was on them all. For there was6 no one needy among them because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the sales and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds were distributed7 to each, as anyone had need. So Joseph,8 a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by9 the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”), sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and placed it at10 the apostles’ feet.

Barnabas (Joseph, Joses) will play a larger role later in Luke’s narrative. It is not too difficult to imagine why a believing Levite became a “son of encouragement” (NET) or The son of consolation (KJV) to the apostles as their faith was persecuted by their rulers, elders, and experts in the lawin Jerusalem.11 Here, he demonstrated by his behavior his participation as a member in good standing in this early practice of the Jerusalem church.

To translate ψυχὴ mind, however, rather than soul or life, seems disingenuous to me. While it conveys the idea that this was a spontaneous reaction to the indwelling Holy Spirit in a particular cultural context, it completely masks the apparent, if not inherent, falseness of this specific belief. I might go so far as to translate ψυχὴ person here. I may be a rabid anti-communist or overly individualistic. Still, I don’t believe that the indwelling Holy Spirit creates God-clones, but a wondrous plethora of godly individuals.12

Luke’s narrative continued (Acts 5:1-4 NET):

Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira13 his wife, sold a piece of property. He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his14 wife’s knowledge;15 he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter16 said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie (ψεύσασθαι, a form of ψεύδομαι) to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself17 part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? Before it was sold, did it not belong to you? And when it was sold, was the money not at your disposal? How have you thought up this deed in your heart? You have not lied (ἐψεύσω, another form of ψεύδομαι) to people but to God!”

When Ananias18 heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped all who heard about it.19

The miraculous sign is Ananias’ death in response to Peter’s words. The wonder is the fear it caused in all who heard, more on that later. Clearly, I would be thinking completely differently about Peter’s words if Ananias had scoffed and walked away, but given his death, it is Peter’s knowledge of, and from, the Holy Spirit that captures my attention.

He knew the secret that Ananias had kept back for himself part of the proceeds.20 With that knowledge alone I might have taken his lie more personally. Peter knew Ananias’ heart as well, that he had not lied to people but to God,21 that Satan filled [his] heart (τὴν καρδίαν σου) to lie to the Holy Spirit.22 Peter’s words conveyed Godly judgment rather than man’s judgment.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

1 Samuel 16:7 (Tanakh) [Table]

1 Samuel 16:7 (NET)

1 Reigns 16:7 (NETS) [Table]

1 Kings 16:7 (English Elpenor)

But HaShem said unto Samuel: ‘Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him; for it is not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but HaShem looketh on the heart (לַלֵּבָֽב).’ But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t be impressed by his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. God does not view things the way people do. People look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (lēḇāḇ, ללבב).” And the Lord said to Samouel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the posture of his size, because I have rejected him, for God will not look as a mortal will see, for a mortal will see into a face, but God will see into a heart (εἰς καρδίαν).” But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance, nor on his stature, for I have rejected him; for God sees not as man looks; for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart (εἰς καρδίαν).

Luke’s narrative continued (Acts 5:6-11 NET):

So the young men came, wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, but she did not know what had happened. Peter23 said to her,24 “Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the land?” Sapphira said, “Yes, that much.” Peter then told25 her, “Why have you agreed together to test (πειράσαι, a form of πειράζω) the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!” At once she collapsed at his feet and died. So when the young men came in, they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the whole church and all who heard about these things.

Luke described some of the results of this fear (Acts 5:12-14 NET):

Now many miraculous signs (σημεῖα, a form of σημεῖον) and wonders (τέρατα, a form of τέρας) came about among the people through the hands of the apostles. By common consent they were all meeting together in Solomon’s Portico [Table]. None of the rest dared to join them, but the people held them in high honor. More and more believers in the Lord were added to their number, crowds of both men and women.

This is a brilliant description of the fear of the Lord: Those whom Jesus drew to Himself at this particular time were added to their number. None of the rest dared to join them. Though it is a little difficult to come to a definitive meaning for ἐμεγάλυνεν αὐτοὺς (NET: held them in high honor) in this context, it’s clear that believers were not being bad-mouthed by the people who feared to join them.

I have very little to say about Ananias and Sapphira, except to compare their decision to lie to the Holy Spirit and to test the Spirit of the Lord to Judah’s son Onan’s decision:

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Genesis 38:8-10 (Tanakh)

Genesis 38:8-10 (NET)

Genesis 38:8-10 (NETS)

Genesis 38:8-10 (English Elpenor)

And Judah said unto Onan: ‘Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother.’ Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise up a descendant for your brother.” Then Ioudas said to Aunan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and act the part of a brother-in-law, and raise up offspring for your brother.” And Judas said to Aunan, Go in to thy brother’s wife, and marry her as her brother-in-law, and raise up seed to thy brother.
And Onan knew that the seed would not be his; and it came to pass when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother. But Onan knew that the child would not be considered his. So whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he wasted his emission on the ground so as not to give his brother a descendant. But because Aunan knew that the offspring would not be his, it would come about that he would pour out his semen upon the ground when he would go in to his brother’s wife so that he would not give offspring to his brother. And Aunan, knowing that the seed should not be his– it came to pass when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he spilled [it] upon the ground, so that he should not give seed to his brother’s wife.
And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of HaShem; and He slew him also. What he did was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord killed him too. Now it seemed evil in the sight of God that he did this, and he put him to death also. And his doing this appeared evil before God; and he slew him also.

Granted, apart from the story of Ananias and Sapphira, I would have judged Onan by outward appearance. I wouldn’t have attributed his death to his own decision to lie to the Holy Spirit and to test the Spirit of the Lord. But the fact that Onan isn’t remembered for that decision helps me extrapolate the false wonder; namely, any attribution of the death of Ananias and Sapphira to anything other than their own decision to lie to the Holy Spirit and to test the Spirit of the Lord that might hinder those whom Jesus is drawing to Himself or encourage those who should fear to join the group of believers at any particular time.

Luke continued (Acts 5:15, 16 NET):

Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and put them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow would fall on some of them. A crowd of people from the towns around Jerusalem also came together, bringing the sick and those troubled by unclean spirits. They were all being healed [Table].

Who were they who carried the sick out into the streets? The translation they appears to be assumed from the verb ἐκφέρειν, an active infinitive form of ἐκφέρω. The nearest antecedent is πλήθη ἀνδρῶν τε καὶ γυναικῶν (NET: crowds of both men and women).26 I admit I had associated these crowds of both men and women with the More and more believers in the Lordadded to their number.27 Their activity, however, sounds more like the vain hero-worship of those who feared to join the believers.

After the Lord healed a man born lame (Acts 3:1-10), Peter declared (Acts 3:12-21 NET):

Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you stare at us as if we had made this man walk by our own power or piety? [Table] The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate after he had decided to release him [Table]. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a man who was a murderer be released to you. You killed the Originator of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this fact we are witnesses! And on the basis of faith in Jesus’ name, his very name has made this man—whom you see and know—strong. The faith that is through Jesus has given him this complete health in the presence of you all. And now, brothers, I know you acted in ignorance, as your rulers did too. But the things God foretold long ago through all the prophets—that his Christ would suffer—he has fulfilled in this way. Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and so that he may send the Messiah appointed for you—that is, Jesus [Table]. This one heaven must receive until the time all things are restored, which God declared from times long ago through his holy prophets [Table].

In the end, however, it doesn’t seem to have mattered whether it was believers are those who feared to join them who carried the sick out into the streets: They were all being healed.28 My tears flowed at this outpouring of God’s grace, knowing from history what will come upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem who ignore Jesus’ warning to flee.29

Jesus had said (John 14:10b-12 NET):

The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own initiative, but the Father residing in me performs his miraculous deeds (τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ) [Table]. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, but if you do not believe me, believe because of the miraculous deeds themselves [Table]. I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these because I am going to the30 Father.

This indiscriminate multiplication of miraculous deeds of healing seems wholly designed to give every opportunity for repentance to those whose prejudice incites their rejection of Jesus’ person. Luke’s narrative continued (Acts 5:17, 18 NET):

Now the high priest rose up, and all those with him (that is, the religious party of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail [Table].

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Jesus said, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it!31

Luke’s narrative continued (Acts 5:19-26 NET):

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said [Table], “Go and stand in the temple courts and proclaim to the people all the words of this life” (πάντα τὰ ρήματα τῆς ζωῆς ταύτης). When they heard this, they entered the temple courts at daybreak and began teaching.

Now when the high priest and those who were with him arrived, they summoned the Sanhedrin—that is, the whole high council of the Israelites—and sent to the jail to have the apostles brought before them. But the officers who came for them did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, “We found the jail32 locked securely and the guards standing33 at34 the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” Now when the35 commander of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were greatly puzzled concerning it, wondering what this could be. But someone came and reported to them,36 “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!” Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought37 the apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned38 by the people).

The officers’ fear adds some weight to the NET translation of ἐμεγάλυνεν αὐτοὺς: held them in high honor.39 This apparent tug-of-war between the apostles and the rulers in Jerusalem is the outworking of Jesus’ promise (John 12:31, 32 NET):

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

Paul explained to Gentile believers (Romans 11:25b-32 NET):

A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in [Table]. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion;
he will remove ungodliness from Jacob [Table].
And this is my covenant with them,
when I take away their sins.”40

In regard to the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. Just as you were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy [Table]. For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all.

And Jesus prophesied over Jerusalem (Matthew 23:37-39 NET):

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would have none of it! [Table] Look, your house is left to you desolate! For I tell you, you will not see me from now until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’

I’ll continue with this in another essay. According to a note (21) in the NET Paul quoted from Isaiah 59:20, 21. A table comparing the Greek of Romans 11:26b, 27a with that of Isaiah 59:20, 21 in the Septuagint follows.

Romans 11:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Isaiah 59:20 (Septuagint BLB) Table

Isaiah 59:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἥξει ἐκ Σιὼν ὁ ρυόμενος, ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ἰακώβ καὶ ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιων ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ Ιακωβ καὶ ἥξει ἕνεκεν Σιὼν ὁ ῥυόμενος καὶ ἀποστρέψει ἀσεβείας ἀπὸ ᾿Ιακώβ

Romans 11:26 (NET)

Isaiah 59:20 (NETS)

Isaiah 59:20 (English Elpenor)

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion; he will remove ungodliness from Jacob. And the one who delivers will come for Zion’s sake, and he will turn impiety away from Jacob. And the deliverer shall come for Sion’s sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob.

Romans 11:27a (NET Parallel Greek)

Isaiah 59:21a (Septuagint BLB) Table

Isaiah 59:21a (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη

καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῗς ἡ παρ᾽ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη

καὶ αὕτη αὐτοῖς ἡ παρ᾿ ἐμοῦ διαθήκη

Romans 11:27a (NET)

Isaiah 59:21a (NETS)

Isaiah 59:21a (English Elpenor)

And this is my covenant with them,

And this is the covenant to them from me,

And this shall be my covenant with them,

Tables comparing Genesis 38:8; 38:9 and 38:10 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET; and comparing Genesis 38:8; 38:9 and 38:10 in the BLB and Elpenor versions of the Septuagint with the English translations from Hebrew and Greek, and tables comparing the Greek of Acts 4:32; 4:34-37; 5:1-3; 5:5; 5:8, 9; John 14:12 and Acts 5:23-26 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 38:8 (Tanakh)

Genesis 38:8 (KJV)

Genesis 38:8 (NET)

And Judah said unto Onan: ‘Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her, and raise up seed to thy brother.’ And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise up a descendant for your brother.”

Genesis 38:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 38:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἶπεν δὲ Ιουδας τῷ Αυναν εἴσελθε πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου καὶ γάμβρευσαι αὐτὴν καὶ ἀνάστησον σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου εἶπε δὲ ᾿Ιούδας τῷ Αὐνάν· εἴσελθε πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου καὶ ἐπιγάμβρευσαι αὐτὴν καὶ ἀνάστησον σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου

Genesis 38:8 (NETS)

Genesis 38:8 (English Elpenor)

Then Ioudas said to Aunan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and act the part of a brother-in-law, and raise up offspring for your brother.” And Judas said to Aunan, Go in to thy brother’s wife, and marry her as her brother-in-law, and raise up seed to thy brother.

Genesis 38:9 (Tanakh)

Genesis 38:9 (KJV)

Genesis 38:9 (NET)

And Onan knew that the seed would not be his; and it came to pass when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. But Onan knew that the child would not be considered his. So whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he wasted his emission on the ground so as not to give his brother a descendant.

Genesis 38:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 38:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

γνοὺς δὲ Αυναν ὅτι οὐκ αὐτῷ ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα ἐγίνετο ὅταν εἰσήρχετο πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ ἐξέχεεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ γνοὺς δὲ Αὐνὰν ὅτι οὐκ αὐτῷ ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα, ἐγίνετο ὅταν εἰσήρχετο πρὸς τὴν γυναῖκα τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ, ἐξέχεεν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν τοῦ μὴ δοῦναι σπέρμα τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ

Genesis 38:9 (NETS)

Genesis 38:9 (English Elpenor)

But because Aunan knew that the offspring would not be his, it would come about that he would pour out his semen upon the ground when he would go in to his brother’s wife so that he would not give offspring to his brother. And Aunan, knowing that the seed should not be his– it came to pass when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he spilled [it] upon the ground, so that he should not give seed to his brother’s wife.

Genesis 38:10 (Tanakh)

Genesis 38:10 (KJV)

Genesis 38:10 (NET)

And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of HaShem; and He slew him also. And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also. What he did was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord killed him too.

Genesis 38:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 38:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

πονηρὸν δὲ ἐφάνη ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι ἐποίησεν τοῦτο καὶ ἐθανάτωσεν καὶ τοῦτον πονηρὸν δὲ ἐφάνη ἐναντίον τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι ἐποίησε τοῦτο, καὶ ἐθανάτωσε καὶ τοῦτον

Genesis 38:10 (NETS)

Genesis 38:10 (English Elpenor)

Now it seemed evil in the sight of God that he did this, and he put him to death also. And his doing this appeared evil before God; and he slew him also.

Acts 4:32 (NET)

Acts 4:32 (KJV)

The group of those who believed were of one heart and mind, and no one said that any of his possessions was his own, but everything was held in common. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Acts 4:32 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 4:32 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 4:32 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Τοῦ δὲ πλήθους τῶν πιστευσάντων ἦν καρδία καὶ ψυχὴ μία, καὶ οὐδὲ εἷς τι τῶν ὑπαρχόντων αὐτῷ ἔλεγεν ἴδιον εἶναι ἀλλ᾿ ἦν αὐτοῖς |ἅπαντα| κοινά του δε πληθους των πιστευσαντων ην η καρδια και η ψυχη μια και ουδε εις τι των υπαρχοντων αυτω ελεγεν ιδιον ειναι αλλ ην αυτοις απαντα κοινα του δε πληθους των πιστευσαντων ην η καρδια και η ψυχη μια και ουδε εις τι των υπαρχοντων αυτων ελεγεν ιδιον ειναι αλλ ην αυτοις απαντα κοινα

Acts 4:34-37 (NET)

Acts 4:34-37 (KJV)

For there was no one needy among them because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them and bringing the proceeds from the sales Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

Acts 4:34 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 4:34 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 4:34 (Byzantine Majority Text)

οὐδὲ γὰρ ἐνδεής τις ἦν ἐν αὐτοῖς· ὅσοι γὰρ κτήτορες χωρίων ἢ οἰκιῶν ὑπῆρχον, πωλοῦντες ἔφερον τὰς τιμὰς τῶν πιπρασκομένων ουδε γαρ ενδεης τις υπηρχεν εν αυτοις οσοι γαρ κτητορες χωριων η οικιων υπηρχον πωλουντες εφερον τας τιμας των πιπρασκομενων ουδε γαρ ενδεης τις υπηρχεν εν αυτοις οσοι γαρ κτητορες χωριων η οικιων υπηρχον πωλουντες εφερον τας τιμας των πιπρασκομενων
and placing them at the apostles’ feet. The proceeds were distributed to each, as anyone had need. And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

Acts 4:35 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 4:35 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 4:35 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἐτίθουν παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων, διεδίδετο δὲ ἑκάστῳ καθότι ἄν τις χρείαν εἶχεν και ετιθουν παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων διεδιδοτο δε εκαστω καθοτι αν τις χρειαν ειχεν και ετιθουν παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων διεδιδοτο δε εκαστω καθοτι αν τις χρειαν ειχεν
So Joseph, a Levite who was a native of Cyprus, called by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”), And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

Acts 4:36 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 4:36 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 4:36 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἰωσὴφ δὲ ὁ ἐπικληθεὶς Βαρναβᾶς ἀπὸ τῶν ἀποστόλων (ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον υἱὸς παρακλήσεως), Λευίτης, Κύπριος τῷ γένει ιωσης δε ο επικληθεις βαρναβας υπο των αποστολων ο εστιν μεθερμηνευομενον υιος παρακλησεως λευιτης κυπριος τω γενει ιωσης δε ο επικληθεις βαρναβας απο των αποστολων ο εστιν μεθερμηνευομενον υιος παρακλησεως λευιτης κυπριος τω γενει
sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and placed it at the apostles’ feet. Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 4:37 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 4:37 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 4:37 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὑπάρχοντος αὐτῷ ἀγροῦ πωλήσας ἤνεγκεν τὸ χρῆμα καὶ ἔθηκεν |πρὸς| τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων υπαρχοντος αυτω αγρου πωλησας ηνεγκεν το χρημα και εθηκεν παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων υπαρχοντος αυτω αγρου πωλησας ηνεγκεν το χρημα και εθηκεν παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων

Acts 5:1-3 (NET)

Acts 5:1-3 (KJV)

Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

Acts 5:1 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:1 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:1 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἀνὴρ δέ τις Ἁνανίας ὀνόματι σὺν σαπφίρῃ τῇ γυναικὶ αὐτοῦ ἐπώλησεν κτῆμα ανηρ δε τις ανανιας ονοματι συν σαπφειρη τη γυναικι αυτου επωλησεν κτημα ανηρ δε τις ανανιας ονοματι συν σαπφειρη τη γυναικι αυτου επωλησεν κτημα
He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet. And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Acts 5:2 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:2 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:2 (Byzantine Majority Text)

καὶ ἐνοσφίσατο ἀπὸ τῆς τιμῆς, συνειδυίης καὶ τῆς γυναικός, καὶ ἐνέγκας μέρος τι παρὰ τοὺς πόδας τῶν ἀποστόλων ἔθηκεν και ενοσφισατο απο της τιμης συνειδυιας και της γυναικος αυτου και ενεγκας μερος τι παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων εθηκεν και ενοσφισατο απο της τιμης συνειδυιας και της γυναικος αυτου και ενεγκας μερος τι παρα τους ποδας των αποστολων εθηκεν
But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

Acts 5:3 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:3 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:3 (Byzantine Majority Text)

εἶπεν δὲ Πέτρος· Ἁνανία, διὰ τί ἐπλήρωσεν ὁ σατανᾶς τὴν καρδίαν σου, ψεύσασθαι σε τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον καὶ νοσφίσασθαι ἀπὸ τῆς τιμῆς τοῦ χωρίου ειπεν δε πετρος ανανια δια τι επληρωσεν ο σατανας την καρδιαν σου ψευσασθαι σε το πνευμα το αγιον και νοσφισασθαι απο της τιμης του χωριου ειπεν δε πετρος ανανια δια τι επληρωσεν ο σατανας την καρδιαν σου ψευσασθαι σε το πνευμα το αγιον και νοσφισασθαι σε απο της τιμης του χωριου

Acts 5:5 (NET)

Acts 5:5 (KJV)

When Ananias heard these words he collapsed and died, and great fear gripped all who heard about it. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Acts 5:5 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:5 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:5 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἀκούων δὲ Ἁνανίας τοὺς λόγους τούτους πεσὼν ἐξέψυξεν, καὶ ἐγένετο φόβος μέγας ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντας ακουων δε ανανιας τους λογους τουτους πεσων εξεψυξεν και εγενετο φοβος μεγας επι παντας τους ακουοντας ταυτα ακουων δε ο ανανιας τους λογους τουτους πεσων εξεψυξεν και εγενετο φοβος μεγας επι παντας τους ακουοντας ταυτα

Acts 5:8, 9 (NET)

Acts 5:8, 9 (KJV)

Peter said to her, “Tell me, were the two of you paid this amount for the land?” Sapphira said, “Yes, that much.” And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

Acts 5:8 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:8 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:8 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἀπεκρίθη δὲ πρὸς αὐτὴν Πέτρος· εἰπέ μοι, εἰ τοσούτου τὸ χωρίον ἀπέδοσθε; ἡ δὲ εἶπεν· ναί, τοσούτου απεκριθη δε αυτη ο πετρος ειπε μοι ει τοσουτου το χωριον απεδοσθε η δε ειπεν ναι τοσουτου απεκριθη δε αυτη ο πετρος ειπε μοι ει τοσουτου το χωριον απεδοσθε η δε ειπεν ναι τοσουτου
Peter then told her, “Why have you agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out!” Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Acts 5:9 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:9 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:9 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὁ δὲ Πέτρος πρὸς αὐτήν· τί ὅτι συνεφωνήθη ὑμῖν πειράσαι τὸ πνεῦμα κυρίου; ἰδοὺ οἱ πόδες τῶν θαψάντων τὸν ἄνδρα σου ἐπὶ τῇ θύρᾳ καὶ ἐξοίσουσιν σε ο δε πετρος ειπεν προς αυτην τι οτι συνεφωνηθη υμιν πειρασαι το πνευμα κυριου ιδου οι ποδες των θαψαντων τον ανδρα σου επι τη θυρα και εξοισουσιν σε ο δε πετρος ειπεν προς αυτην τι οτι συνεφωνηθη υμιν πειρασαι το πνευμα κυριου ιδου οι ποδες των θαψαντων τον ανδρα σου επι τη θυρα και εξοισουσιν σε

John 14:12 (NET)

John 14:12 (KJV)

I tell you the solemn truth, the person who believes in me will perform the miraculous deeds that I am doing, and will perform greater deeds than these because I am going to the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

John 14:12 (NET Parallel Greek)

John 14:12 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

John 14:12 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν, ὁ πιστεύων εἰς ἐμὲ τὰ ἔργα ἃ ἐγὼ ποιῶ κακεῖνος ποιήσει καὶ μείζονα τούτων ποιήσει, ὅτι ἐγὼ πρὸς τὸν πατέρα πορεύομαι αμην αμην λεγω υμιν ο πιστευων εις εμε τα εργα α εγω ποιω κακεινος ποιησει και μειζονα τουτων ποιησει οτι εγω προς τον πατερα μου πορευομαι αμην αμην λεγω υμιν ο πιστευων εις εμε τα εργα α εγω ποιω κακεινος ποιησει και μειζονα τουτων ποιησει οτι εγω προς τον πατερα μου πορευομαι

Acts 5:23-26 (NET)

Acts 5:23-26 (KJV)

“We found the jail locked securely and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.” Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

Acts 5:23 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:23 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:23 (Byzantine Majority Text)

λέγοντες ὅτι τὸ δεσμωτήριον εὕρομεν κεκλεισμένον ἐν πάσῃ ἀσφαλείᾳ καὶ τοὺς φύλακας ἑστῶτας ἐπὶ τῶν θυρῶν, ἀνοίξαντες δὲ ἔσω οὐδένα εὕρομεν λεγοντες οτι το μεν δεσμωτηριον ευρομεν κεκλεισμενον εν παση ασφαλεια και τους φυλακας εξω εστωτας προ των θυρων ανοιξαντες δε εσω ουδενα ευρομεν λεγοντες οτι το μεν δεσμωτηριον ευρομεν κεκλεισμενον εν παση ασφαλεια και τους φυλακας εστωτας προ των θυρων ανοιξαντες δε εσω ουδενα ευρομεν
Now when the commander of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this report, they were greatly puzzled concerning it, wondering what this could be. Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

Acts 5:24 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:24 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:24 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ὡς δὲ ἤκουσαν τοὺς λόγους τούτους ὅ τε στρατηγὸς τοῦ ἱεροῦ καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς, διηπόρουν περὶ αὐτῶν τί ἂν γένοιτο τοῦτο ως δε ηκουσαν τους λογους τουτους ο τε ιερευς και ο στρατηγος του ιερου και οι αρχιερεις διηπορουν περι αυτων τι αν γενοιτο τουτο ως δε ηκουσαν τους λογους τουτους ο τε ιερευς και ο στρατηγος του ιερου και οι αρχιερεις διηπορουν περι αυτων τι αν γενοιτο τουτο
But someone came and reported to them, “Look! The men you put in prison are standing in the temple courts and teaching the people!” Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

Acts 5:25 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:25 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:25 (Byzantine Majority Text)

παραγενόμενος δέ τις ἀπήγγειλεν αὐτοῖς ὅτι ἰδοὺ οἱ ἄνδρες οὓς ἔθεσθε ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ εἰσὶν ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ ἑστῶτες καὶ διδάσκοντες τὸν λαόν παραγενομενος δε τις απηγγειλεν αυτοις λεγων οτι ιδου οι ανδρες ους εθεσθε εν τη φυλακη εισιν εν τω ιερω εστωτες και διδασκοντες τον λαον παραγενομενος δε τις απηγγειλεν αυτοις οτι ιδου οι ανδρες ους εθεσθε εν τη φυλακη εισιν εν τω ιερω εστωτες και διδασκοντες τον λαον
Then the commander of the temple guard went with the officers and brought the apostles without the use of force (for they were afraid of being stoned by the people). Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

Acts 5:26 (NET Parallel Greek)

Acts 5:26 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Acts 5:26 (Byzantine Majority Text)

Τότε ἀπελθὼν ὁ στρατηγὸς σὺν τοῖς ὑπηρέταις ἦγεν αὐτοὺς οὐ μετὰ βίας (ἐφοβοῦντο γὰρ τὸν λαὸν μὴ λιθασθῶσιν) τοτε απελθων ο στρατηγος συν τοις υπηρεταις ηγαγεν αυτους ου μετα βιας εφοβουντο γαρ τον λαον ινα μη λιθασθωσιν τοτε απελθων ο στρατηγος συν τοις υπηρεταις ηγαγεν αυτους ου μετα βιας εφοβουντο γαρ τον λαον ινα μη λιθασθωσιν

1 Acts 2:43 (NET) Table

3 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article η preceding heart. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

4 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article η preceding mind (KJV: soul). The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

5 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Stephanus Textus Receptus had the singular pronoun αὐτῷ here, where the Byzantine Majority Text had the plural αυτων.

7 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had διεδίδετο here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had διεδιδοτο (KJV: distribution was made). They appear to be alternate spellings of the same part of speech.

8 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had Ἰωσὴφ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιωσης (KJV: Joses). Both spellings describe, “A Levite from Cyprus whose name was changed by the apostles to Barnabas (Acts 4:36),” according to the Koine Greek Lexicon online.

11 Acts 4:5b (NET) Table

15 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had συνειδυίης here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had συνειδυιας (KJV: being privy to it). They appear to be alternate spellings of the same part of speech.

16 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had the article preceding Peter. The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

18 The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had the article preceding Ananias. The Stephanus Textus Receptus did not.

19 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ταυτα (KJV: these things) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

20 Acts 5:2a (NET)

21 Acts 5:4b (NET)

22 Acts 5:3a (NET)

23 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had the article ο preceding Peter. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

24 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had πρὸς αὐτὴν here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had simply αυτη (KJV: unto her).

25 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ειπεν (KJV: said) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

26 Acts 5:14b (NET)

27 Acts 5:14a (NET)

28 Acts 5:15a, 16b (NET) Table

30 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μου (KJV: my) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

31 Matthew 23:37 (NET) Table

32 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had μεν (KJV: truly) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

33 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had εξω (KJV: without) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

34 The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἐπὶ here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had προ (KJV: before).

35 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ιερευς και ο (KJV: high priest and the) here. The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 did not.

36 The Stephanus Textus Receptus had λεγων (KJV: saying) here. The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text did not.

38 The Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had ινα μη (KJV: lest they should have been stoned) preceding of being stoned, where the NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had simply μὴ.

40 See Peter’s Second Gospel Proclamation, Part 3 for a table comparing the Greek of this quotation to that of the Septuagint.

Who Am I? Part 14

I came across a YouTube video recently: “5 Bible Passages That Caused Me to Lose My Faith” by Kristi Burke. It was short and to the point. Ms. Burke looked to be about my daughter’s age. My daughter won’t articulate her own deconstruction experience around me. She will only state her preference for the witchcraft/neopagan beliefs and community she espouses now. So, I clicked on the link.

It seems only fair to let Ms. Burke state her own purpose:

Hi, guys, welcome back to my channel, where we deconstruct all of the things we were taught not to question growing up in evangelical, fundamentalist, conservative christian churches.

We have similar backgrounds. But I can’t honestly say that I was “taught not to question.” Why didn’t I talk to anyone about what I was going through at the time?1 I thought I already knew what they would say. Might I have been pleasantly surprised? I don’t know. I didn’t talk to anyone. But nothing is ever quite as simple as what I was taught “growing up in evangelical, fundamentalist, conservative christian churches.”

I had a home with parents and a brother and a sister. I went to school. I had friends (and enemies) at home, at school and at church. I played sports and had friends (and enemies) on various teams. And I knew more or less how to fit in in all of these different environments. The rub came sometime in what is now called my tween years, when I began to recognize that God didn’t create me to be a social chameleon, but one person made in his image in all of these different social environments.

I had a few years of experience by then (which felt like a lifetime at the time) of how adult advice didn’t often pan out when navigating all the different social environments they had placed me in. I “knew” I had to figure it out pretty much on my own. And about that time I also became more self-conscious of my own free will: “I want” (θέλω). What did I want in all of it?

Ms. Burke described her faith prior to encountering the “5 Bible Passages”:

I believed in a god who created all people, gave them free will and that he wanted all people to be saved but he couldn’t violate their free will to save them. And that it was the most loving thing he could do to give people freedom. And within that freedom they could either choose him and go to heaven or they could reject him and go to hell. And that would be entirely their choice.

This was essentially my belief except that Ms. Burke made no mention of Jesus or sin: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,2 Paul wrote Timothy. I have not come to call the righteous, Jesus said, but sinners to repentance.3 Granted, Ms. Burke’s purpose was not to present a true or even a credible gospel but to “deconstruct all of the things we were taught not to question growing up in evangelical, fundamentalist, conservative christian churches.”

I’m coming fresh from reviewing the story of Eve and the serpent. Her free will led to an attempt to be like God by following the serpent’s advice. Could her free will have led her to reject the serpent’s advice once she saw that the tree was good for food and that it was pleasing for the eyes to look at and it was beautiful to contemplate?4 I don’t think so. All of that desire seems to have determined what she wanted and therefore shaped her free will.

What did Jesus say about his own free will?

Matthew 26:39 (NET) Table

John 10:17, 18 (NET)

Going a little farther, [Jesus] threw himself down with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if possible, let this cup pass from me! Yet not what I will (θέλω), but what you will.” This is why the Father loves me—because I lay down my life, so that I may take it back again. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of my own free will (ἐμαυτοῦ). I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it back again. This commandment I received from my Father.”

While I have no particular quarrel with translating ἀπ᾿ ἐμαυτοῦ of my own free will, I appreciate the precision of Scripture in Greek. Jesus did not use the verb θέλω here. His own will, what He wanted, was not to die a torturous death. And his ἐμαυτοῦ (NET: my own free will) was an authority (ἐξουσίαν, a form of ἐξουσία) received (ἔλαβον, a form of λαμβάνω) by commandment (ἐντολὴν, a form of ἐντολή) from God his Father.

The writer of Hebrews described Jesus’ purpose in the world (Hebrews 10:4-7 NET):

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. So when [Christ] came into the world, he said,

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me.

Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in.

Then I said, ‘Here I am: I have come—it is written of me in the scroll of the book—to do your will (θέλημα), O God.’”

The Greek word θέλημα is the noun form of the verb θέλω. Those who believe that salvation is a choice made by a sinner’s free will tend to make the Gospel something that they think might appeal to a sinner’s free will: going to heaven rather than to hell, heaven being a euphemism here for not-hell. The pitch relies on the implication that heaven is where one gets what one wants (i.e., one’s own free will).

Jesus taught us to pray (Matthew 5:10 NET):

…may your kingdom come, may your will (θέλημα σου) be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The implication here is that God’s will is done in heaven. How much would a sinner striving faithfully to pursue a sinner’s free will care for Jesus’ heaven? Jesus said to Nicodemus (John 3:3 NET):

I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God [Table].

The Greek word translated see was ἰδεῖν (a form of εἴδω). It was the same root word Nicodemus used when he said (John 3:2 NET):

Rabbi, we know (οἴδαμεν, another form of εἴδω) that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him [Table].

In other words, Jesus didn’t threaten Nicodemus with eternal damnation, but commended his partial insight. It helps one to understand why He was so surprised that Nicodemus didn’t actually understand one of these earthly things (John 3:6, 7 NET).

What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’

Not all free will (θέλω) is born of the flesh. Jesus said (John 15:7 NET):

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want (θέλητε, another form of θέλω), and it will be done for you [Table].

Here, I would assume that as you remain in Jesus and his words remain in you, whatever you want is born of the Spirit. The Greek words translated whatever were ἐὰν. So how did Jesus’ Gospel presentation differ (Matthew 11:28-30 NET)?

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls [Table]. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.

It doesn’t really matter if people are weary (κοπιῶντες, a form of κοπιάω) and burdened (πεφορτισμένοι, a form of φορτίζω) by their lives lived in sin—foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending [their] lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another5—or from their attempts to make themselves righteous by obeying rules. While the invitation is sincere, Jesus also said (John 6:44, 45 NET):

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day [Table]. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me [Table].

These are not as contradictory as they seem in English. The Greek word translated come in the phrase come to me was the adverb δεῦτε, and in the phrase no one can come to me it was the verb ἐλθεῖν (a form of ἔρχομαι). Anyone who believes that salvation is the result of a sinner’s free will is unlikely to believe that they will all be taught by God effectually, but Jesus also said (John 12:31, 32 NET):

Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

Disbelieving Him adversely impacts one’s knowledge of God, but doesn’t change his mind, no matter how many people refuse to take Him at his word: Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar,6 Paul wrote in response to his own rhetorical question: If some were unfaithful, their unfaithfulness will not nullify God’s faithfulness, will it?7

With that as background I’ll turn to Ms. Burke’s first Bible passage: “Romans 9, which was the starting point of my deconstruction journey,”8 she said. Though she began in verse 16, I’ll start at the beginning of the chapter to gain some context (Romans 9:1-6a NET):

I am telling the truth in Christ (I am not lying!), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit—I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed—cut off from Christ—for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen [Table], who are Israelites. To them belong the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from them, by human descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever! Amen.

It is not as though the word of God had failed.

Here was the perfect opportunity for Paul to explain how God “gave them free will and that he wanted all people to be saved but he couldn’t violate their free will to save them. And that it was the most loving thing he could do to give people freedom. And within that freedom they could either choose him and go to heaven or they could reject him and go to hell. And that would be entirely their choice.”9

Instead, Paul wrote (Romans 9:6b, 7 NET):

For not all those who are descended from Israel are truly Israel, nor are all the children Abraham’s true descendants; rather “through Isaac will your descendants be counted” [See Greek Table Comparison].

What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit, Jesus said. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’10 And Paul began here to explain the implications of that difference, contrasting the children of the flesh to the children of God or the children of promise (Romans 9:8-13 NET).

This means it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God; rather, the children of promise are counted as descendants. For this is what the promise declared: “About a year from now I will return and Sarah will have a son.” Not only that, but when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our ancestor Isaac—even before they were born or had done anything good or bad11 (so that God’s purpose in election would stand, not by works but by his calling)—it was said12 to her, “The older will serve the younger,” just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

Those who believe salvation is a choice of a sinner’s free will would be content it seems to let those for whom Paul had great sorrow and unceasing anguish in [his] heart13 hear Jesus say: Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!14 It was, after all, their choice, wasn’t it?

There is no commandment of God granting any authority to sinners to come to Jesus of their own free will, according to Jesus: No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.15 The “most loving thing he could do” is not “to give people freedom”16 to destroy themselves forever. For who are the children of promise that God’s purpose in election would stand, according to Jesus? And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.17

According to a note (5) in the NET Hebrews 10:5b-7 was a quotation from Psalm 40:6-8. A table follows comparing the Greek of Hebrews 10:5b-7 to that of the Septuagint.

Hebrews 10:5b, 6 (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 40:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 39:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας, σῶμα δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ εὐδόκησας θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας ὠτία δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ ᾔτησας θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας, σῶμα δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι· ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ ἐζήτησας

Hebrews 10:5b, 6 (NET)

Psalm 39:7 (NETS)

Psalm 39:7 (English Elpenor)

Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me. Whole burnt offerings and sin-offerings you took no delight in. Sacrifice and offering you did not want, but ears you fashioned for me. Whole burnt offering and one for sin you did not request. Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; but a body hast thou prepared me: whole-burnt-offering and [sacrifice] for sin thou didst not require.

Hebrews 10:7 (NET Parallel Greek)

Psalm 40:7, 8a (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 39:8, 9a (Septuagint Elpenor)

τότε εἶπον· ἰδοὺ ἥκω, ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ, τοῦ ποιῆσαι ὁ θεὸς τὸ θέλημα σου τότε εἶπον ἰδοὺ ἥκω ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημά σου ὁ θεός μου ἐβουλήθην τότε εἶπον· ἰδοὺ ἥκω, ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημά σου, ὁ Θεός μου, ἐβουλήθην

Hebrews 10:7 (NET)

Psalm 39:8, 9a (NETS)

Psalm 39:8, 9a (English Elpenor)

Then I said, ‘Here I am: I have come—it is written of me in the scroll of the book—to do your will, O God.’” Then I said, “Look, I have come; in a scroll of a book it is written of me. To do your will, O my God, I desired — Then I said, Behold, I come: in the volume of the book it is written concerning me, I desired to do thy will, O my God,

I’m becoming more convinced that the Holy Spirit corrected the false pen of the scribes through the writer of Hebrews.

Masoretic Text

Septuagint

Jeremiah 8:8 (Tanakh/KJV)

Jeremiah 8:8 (NET)

Jeremiah 8:8 (NETS)

Jeremiah 8:8 (English Elpenor)

How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen (עֵ֖ט) of the scribes is in vain (שֶׁ֥קֶר). How can you say, “We are wise! We have the law of the Lord”? The truth is, those who teach it have used their writings to make it say what it does not really mean [Note 24: The lying (šeqer, שקר) pen (ʿēṭ, עט) of the scribes has made (it) into a lie]. How will you say, “We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us?” A false pen (σχοῖνος ψευδὴς) has become of no use to scribes. How will ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? In vain have the scribes used a false pen (σχοῖνος ψευδὴς).

According to a note (21) in the NET Romans 9:9b was a quotation from Genesis 18:10 and 14. Two tables follow comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation to that of the Septuagint.

Romans 9:9b (NET Parallel Greek)

Genesis 18:10b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Genesis 18:10b (Septuagint Elpenor)

κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ἐλεύσομαι καὶ ἔσται τῇ Σάρρᾳ υἱός κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον εἰς ὥρας καὶ ἕξει υἱὸν Σαρρα γυνή σου κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον εἰς ὥρας, καὶ ἕξει υἱὸν Σάρρα γυνή σου

Romans 9:9b (NET)

Genesis 18:10b (NETS)

Genesis 18:10b (English Elpenor)

About a year from now I will return and Sarah will have a son. I will come to you, when I return, during this season next year, and Sarra your wife shall have a son. I will return and come to thee according to this period seasonably, and Sarrha thy wife shall have a son

Romans 9:9b (NET Parallel Greek)

Genesis 18:14b (Septuagint BLB) Table

Genesis 18:14b (Septuagint Elpenor)

κατὰ τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ἐλεύσομαι καὶ ἔσται τῇ Σάρρᾳ υἱός εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ἀναστρέψω πρὸς σὲ εἰς ὥρας καὶ ἔσται τῇ Σαρρα υἱός εἰς τὸν καιρὸν τοῦτον ἀναστρέψω πρὸς σὲ εἰς ὥρας· καὶ ἔσται τῇ Σάρρᾳ υἱός

Romans 9:9b (NET)

Genesis 18:14b (NETS)

Genesis 18:14b (English Elpenor)

About a year from now I will return and Sarah will have a son. In this season I will come back to you next year, and Sarra shall have a son. I will return and come to thee according to this period seasonably, and Sarrha thy wife shall have a son

According to a note (27) in the NET Romans 9:12b was a quotation from Genesis 25:23. A table follows comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation to that of the Septuagint.

Romans 9:12b (NET Parallel Greek)

Genesis 25:23b (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 25:23b (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι

Romans 9:12b (NET)

Genesis 25:23b (NETS)

Genesis 25:23b (English Elpenor)

The older will serve the younger the greater shall be subject to the lesser. the elder shall serve the younger.

According to a note (28) in the NET Romans 9:13b was a quotation from Malachi 1:2, 3. A table follows comparing the Greek of Paul’s quotation to that of the Septuagint.

Romans 9:13b (NET Parallel Greek)

Malachi 1:2b, 3a (Septuagint BLB)

Malachi 1:2b, 3a (Septuagint Elpenor)

τὸν Ἰακὼβ ἠγάπησα, τὸν δὲ Ἠσαῦ ἐμίσησα ἠγάπησα τὸν Ιακωβ τὸν δὲ Ησαυ ἐμίσησα ἠγάπησα τόν ᾿Ιακώβ, τὸν δὲ ῾Ησαῦ ἐμίσησα

Romans 9:13b (NET)

Malachi 1:2b, 3a (NETS)

Malachi 1:2b, 3a (English Elpenor)

Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. I loved Iakob, but I hated Esau I loved Jacob, and hated Esau

Tables comparing Psalm 40:6; 40:7; 40:8; Jeremiah 8:8; Genesis 25:23; Malachi 1:2 and 1:3 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET; and tables comparing Psalm 40:6 (39:7); 40:7 (39:8); 40:8 (39:9); Jeremiah 8:8; Genesis 25:23; Malachi 1:2 and 1:3 in the BLB and Elpenor versions of the Septuagint with the English translations from Hebrew and Greek, and a table comparing the Greek of Romans 9:11, 12 the NET and KJV follow.

Psalm 40:6 (Tanakh)

Psalm 40:6 (KJV)

Psalm 40:6 (NET)

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern. You make that quite clear to me. You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.

Psalm 40:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 39:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας ὠτία δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι ὁλοκαύτωμα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ ᾔτησας θυσίαν καὶ προσφορὰν οὐκ ἠθέλησας, σῶμα δὲ κατηρτίσω μοι· ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ περὶ ἁμαρτίας οὐκ ἐζήτησας

Psalm 39:7 (NETS)

Psalm 39:7 (English Elpenor)

Sacrifice and offering you did not want, but ears you fashioned for me. Whole burnt offering and one for sin you did not request. Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; but a body hast thou prepared me: whole-burnt-offering and [sacrifice] for sin thou didst not require.

Psalm 40:7 (Tanakh)

Psalm 40:7 (KJV)

Psalm 40:7 (NET)

Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, Then I say, “Look, I come! What is written in the scroll pertains to me.

Psalm 40:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 39:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

τότε εἶπον ἰδοὺ ἥκω ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ τότε εἶπον· ἰδοὺ ἥκω, ἐν κεφαλίδι βιβλίου γέγραπται περὶ ἐμοῦ

Psalm 39:8 (NETS)

Psalm 39:8 (English Elpenor)

Then I said, “Look, I have come; in a scroll of a book it is written of me. Then I said, Behold, I come: in the volume of the book it is written concerning me,

Psalm 40:8 (Tanakh)

Psalm 40:8 (KJV)

Psalm 40:8 (NET)

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I want to do what pleases you, my God. Your law dominates my thoughts.”

Psalm 40:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Psalm 39:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημά σου ὁ θεός μου ἐβουλήθην καὶ τὸν νόμον σου ἐν μέσῳ τῆς κοιλίας μου τοῦ ποιῆσαι τὸ θέλημά σου, ὁ Θεός μου, ἐβουλήθην καὶ τὸν νόμον σου ἐν μέσῳ τῆς κοιλίας μου

Psalm 39:9 (NETS)

Psalm 39:9 (English Elpenor)

To do your will, O my God, I desired—and your law, within my belly.” I desired to do thy will, O my God, and thy law in the midst of mine heart.

Jeremiah 8:8 (Tanakh)

Jeremiah 8:8 (KJV)

Jeremiah 8:8 (NET)

How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. How can you say, “We are wise! We have the law of the Lord”? The truth is, those who teach it have used their writings to make it say what it does not really mean.

Jeremiah 8:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Jeremiah 8:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

πῶς ἐρεῖτε ὅτι σοφοί ἐσμεν ἡμεῖς καὶ νόμος κυρίου ἐστὶν μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν εἰς μάτην ἐγενήθη σχοῖνος ψευδὴς γραμματεῦσιν πῶς ἐρεῖτε· ὅτι σοφοί ἐσμεν ἡμεῖς, καὶ νόμος Κυρίου μεθ’ ἡμῶν ἐστιν; εἰς μάτην ἐγενήθη σχοῖνος ψευδὴς γραμματεῦσιν

Jeremiah 8:8 (NETS)

Jeremiah 8:8 (English Elpenor)

How will you say, “We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us?” A false pen has become of no use to scribes. How will ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? In vain have the scribes used a false pen.

Genesis 25:23 (Tanakh)

Genesis 25:23 (KJV)

Genesis 25:23 (NET)

And HaShem said unto her: Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. and the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from within you. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

Genesis 25:23 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 25:23 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ εἶπεν κύριος αὐτῇ δύο ἔθνη ἐν τῇ γαστρί σού εἰσιν καὶ δύο λαοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας σου διασταλήσονται καὶ λαὸς λαοῦ ὑπερέξει καὶ ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι καὶ εἶπε Κύριος αὐτῇ· δύο ἔθνη ἐν γαστρί σου εἰσί, καὶ δύο λαοὶ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας σου διασταλήσονται· καὶ λαὸς λαοῦ ὑπερέξει, καὶ ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι

Genesis 25:23 (NETS)

Genesis 25:23 (English Elpenor)

and the Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from your uterus shall be divided, and a people shall excel over a people, and the greater shall be subject to the lesser.” And the Lord said to her, There are two nations in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy belly, and one people shall excel the other, and the elder shall serve the younger.

Malachi 1:2 (Tanakh)

Malachi 1:2 (KJV)

Malachi 1:2 (NET)

I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, I have shown love to you,” says the Lord, but you say, “How have you shown love to us?”

Esau was Jacob’s brother,” the Lord explains, “yet I chose Jacob

Malachi 1:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Malachi 1:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἠγάπησα ὑμᾶς λέγει κύριος καὶ εἴπατε ἐν τίνι ἠγάπησας ἡμᾶς οὐκ ἀδελφὸς ἦν Ησαυ τοῦ Ιακωβ λέγει κύριος καὶ ἠγάπησα τὸν Ιακωβ ᾿Ηγάπησα ὑμᾶς, λέγει Κύριος. καὶ εἴπατε· ἐν τίνι ἠγάπησας ἡμᾶς; οὐκ ἀδελφὸς ἦν ῾Ησαῦ τοῦ ᾿Ιακώβ; λέγει Κύριος, καὶ ἠγάπησα τόν ᾿Ιακώβ

Malachi 1:2 (NETS)

Malachi 1:2 (English Elpenor)

I loved you, says the Lord. And you said, “How did you love us?” Was not Esau Iakob’s brother? says the Lord. And I loved Iakob, I have loved you, saith the Lord. And ye said, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob,

Malachi 1:3 (Tanakh)

Malachi 1:3 (KJV)

Malachi 1:3 (NET)

And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. and rejected Esau. I turned Esau’s mountains into a deserted wasteland and gave his territory to the wild jackals.”

Malachi 1:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Malachi 1:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

τὸν δὲ Ησαυ ἐμίσησα καὶ ἔταξα τὰ ὅρια αὐτοῦ εἰς ἀφανισμὸν καὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ εἰς δόματα ἐρήμου τὸν δὲ ῾Ησαῦ ἐμίσησα καὶ ἔταξα τὰ ὅρια αὐτοῦ εἰς ἀφανισμὸν καὶ τὴν κληρονομίαν αὐτοῦ εἰς δώματα ἐρήμου

Malachi 1:3 (NETS)

Malachi 1:3 (English Elpenor)

but I hated Esau, and I made his mountains an annihilation and his heritage gifts of the wilderness. and hated Esau and laid waste his borders, and made his heritage as dwellings of the wilderness?

Romans 9:11, 12 (NET)

Romans 9:11, 12 (KJV)

even before they were born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose in election would stand, not by works but by his calling)— (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

Romans 9:11, 12a (NET Parallel Greek)

Romans 9:11 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Romans 9:11 (Byzantine Majority Text)

μήπω γὰρ γεννηθέντων μηδὲ πραξάντων τι ἀγαθὸν ἢ φαῦλον (ἵνα ἡ κατ᾿ ἐκλογὴν πρόθεσις τοῦ θεοῦ μένῃ (12a) οὐκ ἐξ ἔργων ἀλλ᾿ ἐκ τοῦ καλοῦντος) μηπω γαρ γεννηθεντων μηδε πραξαντων τι αγαθον η κακον ινα η κατ εκλογην του θεου προθεσις μενη ουκ εξ εργων αλλ εκ του καλουντος μηπω γαρ γεννηθεντων μηδε πραξαντων τι αγαθον η κακον ινα η κατ εκλογην προθεσις του θεου μενη ουκ εξ εργων αλλ εκ του καλουντος
it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger,” It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

Romans 9:12b (NET Parallel Greek)

Romans 9:12 (Stephanus Textus Receptus)

Romans 9:12 (Byzantine Majority Text)

ἐρρέθη αὐτῇ ὅτι ὁ μείζων δουλεύσει τῷ ἐλάσσονι ερρηθη αυτη οτι ο μειζων δουλευσει τω ελασσονι ερρηθη αυτη οτι ο μειζων δουλευσει τω ελασσονι

2 1 Timothy 1:15b (NET)

3 Luke 5:32 (NET)

5 Titus 3:3 (NET)

6 Romans 3:4b (NET) Table

7 Romans 3:3 (NET)

9 Ibid.

10 John 3:6, 7 (NET)

13 Romans 9:2 (NET)

14 Matthew 25:41b (NET)

15 John 6:44a (NET) Table

17 John 12:32 (NET)